The Age of Bronze (L'Age d'airain)
Rodin’s breakout sculpture, The Age of Bronze caused a critical scandal for its extreme naturalism and ambiguous subject matter. Fashioned over a period of eighteen months and based on a live model, the sculpture depicts a suspended moment of human awakening, either to suffering or to joy. First exhibited in 1877 in Brussels with the title The Conquered Man (Le Vaincu [literal translation, "The Vanquished"]), it was displayed later the same year in Paris with its current title. Rodin promoted the work’s multiple interpretations, saying, "There are at least four figures in it."
Artwork Details
- Title: The Age of Bronze (L'Age d'airain)
- Artist: Auguste Rodin (French, Paris 1840–1917 Meudon)
- Founder: Cast by Alexis Rudier (French)
- Date: modeled 1876, cast ca. 1906
- Culture: French
- Medium: Bronze
- Dimensions: Overall (wt. confirmed): 72 in., 275 lb. (182.9 cm, 124.7 kg)
- Classification: Sculpture-Bronze
- Credit Line: Gift of Mrs. John W. Simpson, 1907
- Object Number: 07.127
- Curatorial Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Audio
6010. The Age of Bronze (L'Age d'airain)
0:00
0:00
We're sorry, the transcript for this audio track is not available at this time. Please email info@metmuseum.org to request a transcript for this track.
More Artwork
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.