Young Woman

This plaster cast is believed to have been completed at some point before 1912, with the model having first been created around 1889. Rodin's studio was a lively place where records were not always kept as accurately as historians might have liked.

Although the sculptor had a number of assistants on hand, not all of them artists, his continued productivity and changes of mind meant that there were some items within his oeuvre that little was known about. He would also re-work things from time to time, leaving behind several similar versions that would then be hard to identify individually. The item that we have in front of us, which is a portrait of a young woman sitting on the floor in a unusual pose, is now a part of the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, but any real information on it would likely still remain within the Musee Rodin. That institution has made great strides in documenting his career but it feels likely that there are still secrets within its extensive collection that have not yet been discovered. There are thousands of items to be found here from his lifetime, with many study sculptures, models and also work in other mediums too.

Rodin is considered one of the most important sculptors in history, alongside the likes of Michelangelo, Bernini and Brancusi. We have attempted to provide a comprehensive review of his career, taking into account all of the mediums in which he was involved, whilst focusing most on sculpture. He would take what had gone before and help to push new ideas and refresh this ancient art form, allowing it to appeal to newer generations for years to come.

The Met, as it is known by many, features one of the finest art collections in the world and also has managed to cover a good variety of different movements and mediums, making this an exciting venue that will interest both art enthusiasts but also those who are more generally interested in art and design of a historical nature. As something of a tourist destination, many visitors may not be willing to spend more than a few hours here, but they will certainly be able to find something to their taste, such is its diverse offering which has been built up over centuries from a variety of generous donations alongside the occasional direct purchase. Melencolia I by Albrecht Durer remains one of the highlights to be found here, as does Madame X (Madame Pierre Gautreau) by John Singer Sargent. It is worth browsing their collection online before making the visit, as otherwise it can be hard to decide what to look at when presented with such a huge selection of work.