The Gates of Hell

In 1880 Rodin was commissioned by the French government to create a monumental bronze gate with scenes from Dante's 'Inferno' for a Musée des Arts Décoratifs. The museum was never built; Rodin's gate, on which he worked until his death, remained unfinished. Rodin also treated many of the 186 figures in separate sculptures, such as 'Denker' or 'Grande ombre', the crowning trinity developed from his earlier 'Adam'. See inv. 1968/59 and inv. 2381.