This exhibition at the Royal Łazienki Museum presents Auguste Rodin's 'Caryatide Carrying Her Stone' sculpture. On display from June 17 to November 19, 2023, in the Gardens by the Water Tower, the work explores themes of struggle and inner suffering, drawing from Rodin's monumental 'The Gates of Hell'.
The Royal Łazienki Museum is showcasing Auguste Rodin's significant sculpture, 'Caryatide Carrying Her Stone,' from June 17 to November 19, 2023. Positioned on the escarpment by the Water Tower, this work offers a profound exploration of the caryatide motif, a theme Rodin revisited multiple times throughout his career. The sculpture presented is an enlarged version of a figure from his ambitious, though unfinished, masterpiece 'The Gates of Hell,' a project inspired by Dante's 'Divine Comedy' and the art of Lorenzo Ghiberti and Michelangelo.
Separated from its original architectural context, 'Caryatide Carrying Her Stone' reveals its full expressive potential. Unlike idealized ancient caryatides, Rodin's figure is depicted bent under the weight of the stone, conveying not physical strain but inner suffering. This powerful portrayal, characterized by Rodin's signature shaping and texture that create dramatic chiaroscuro effects, has profoundly influenced sculptors across Europe, including prominent Polish artists whose works can be seen elsewhere in the Łazienki Park. The exhibition highlights Rodin's mastery in transforming classical themes into deeply emotional and modern sculptural statements.