France, 19th century / 1886
Heroic Head of Pierre de Wissant, One of the Burghers of Calais
The Cleveland Museum of Art catalogs Heroic Head of Pierre de Wissant, One of the Burghers of Calais as sculpture (France, 19th century · 1886).
This sculpture depicts the head of a figure from Rodin's large public monument The Burghers of Calais (1884–89). The CMA also owns a plaster version of the head.
A CLOSER LOOK
The museum identifies this sculpture as bronze and credits Auguste Rodin (French, 1840–1917).
The museum's collection notes: This sculpture depicts one of the figures in Rodin’s large public monument The Burghers of Calais (1884–89), featuring six French men who volunteered to be taken prisoner by the English in exchange for lifting the siege of Calais during the Hundred Years' War (1337–1453). Pierre de Wissant’s anguished expression suggests extreme mental suffering as he contemplates his expected execution. Rodin exhibited a life-size version of the figure as an independent work before completing the monument. He later made multiple versions in various sizes and media.
FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE
The Cleveland Museum of ArtHeroic Head of Pierre de Wissant, One of the Burghers of CalaisOriginal explanation based on the sources above. Images carry their own reuse terms.