Study of a hand thumbnail 1
Study of a hand thumbnail 2
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Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Sculpture, Room 111, The Gilbert Bayes Gallery

Study of a hand

Statuette
possibly 1884-1885 (modelled), 1952-1953 (cast)
Artist/Maker
Georges Rudier (foundry)
Rodin (modeller)
Place of origin
Paris (made)

The hand may be cast from a clay model, many of which survive in Rodin’s studio at Meudon. Its agitated quality suggests a link with his vast bronze monument The Burghers of Calais, which commemorates the siege of the town in 1346–7. A version can be seen on the Embankment by the Houses of Parliament. This version was cast in about 1952-3 by Georges Rudier, authorised by the Musée Rodin.


Object details

Category
Sculpture
Object type
Statuette
TitleStudy of a hand (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Bronze
Bronze
Brief description
Statuette, Study of a hand, by Auguste Rodin, France (Paris), cast in 1952-53
Physical description
Statuette, bronze. Study of a hand. A hand with fingers and thumb clenches. Inscribed 'A. Rodin' on the wrist and near the base on the other side, 'G. Rudier. Fondeur. Paris'. On the bottom of the socle is a label inscribed 'Auguste Rodin'
Dimensions
  • Weight: 2.140kg
  • Hand only (does not include base) height: 12.15cm (Note: Dimension does not include base.)
  • Height: 22cm
  • Width: 10.5cm
  • Depth: 8cm (Note: Marble base is 8cm x 8 cm)
Credit line
Given by Dr Neville Goodman CB
Object history
Given by Dr Neville Goodman, C.B. Purchased by him from Roland, Browse & Delbanco, £141.15.0, 9 May 1953.
Subject depicted
Hand
Summary
The hand may be cast from a clay model, many of which survive in Rodin’s studio at Meudon. Its agitated quality suggests a link with his vast bronze monument The Burghers of Calais, which commemorates the siege of the town in 1346–7. A version can be seen on the Embankment by the Houses of Parliament. This version was cast in about 1952-3 by Georges Rudier, authorised by the Musée Rodin.
Bibliographic references
  • Hawkins, Jennifer, Rodin Sculptures, London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1975, pp.22-23, ill. 10
  • Nicolson, Benedict. 'Rodin and Lady Sackville' in Burlington Magazine, January 1970, no. 802, vol. CXII, p. 38, fig. 43.
Collection
Sculpture Collection
Accession number
A.22-1971

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Record createdApril 18, 2005
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O111252/study-of-a-hand-statuette-rodin/
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