There really isn’t a museum in Paris like Rodin Museum. This Museum is tucked away behind Les Invalides in the 7th Arrondissement, barely twenty minutes’ walk from the crowds at the Eiffel Tower, and is housed in the elegant 18th-century townhouse known as Hôtel Biron. The light-colored, two-story hôtel particulier looks out over seven acres of picturesque lawns, rose gardens, and rows of expertly trimmed trees sprinkled with Rodin sculptures.
Even though many people think the gardens are the main attraction, Rodin’s restored sculptures, his antiques, and the paintings from his private collection are beautifully displayed in the recently renovated interior space thanks to its enormous bay windows that extend from floor to ceiling and flood the rooms with light. Here, you can find helpful information about Rodin Museum.
An Introduction of Rodin Museum in Paris
Later in his life, Auguste Rodin resided at the Hôtel Biron, where the grounds served as creative inspiration for some of his works. Nearly 200 years after it was constructed for a wealthy businessman, the old residence first welcomed visitors as a museum in 1919. Visitors may view Rodin’s sculptures and sketches up close in the small, intimate spaces thanks to the high ceilings, while his most well-known bronze sculptures, such as “The Gates of Hell” and “The Thinker,” are on display in the expansive gardens. The museum can attract a sizable audience, so arrive early to avoid waiting in long lines. The gardens are large enough to never feel congested.
The expedition of Rodin Museum
The work is especially highlighted by the light coming through the big windows, which also serves to remind visitors of the setting in which the sculptor himself produced it. Rodin’s artwork is displayed in every room; however, there is more space between sculptures in the gardens. Look for the works that Rodin acquired from his contemporaries in addition to his own creations.
Sculpture and Nature of Rodin Museum
The seven-acre garden around the museum features a variety of settings. The Hôtel Biron is framed by rose gardens on all sides of the central courtyard (home to permanent collections). The Gates of Hell, which were built in 1920 after the destruction of the outbuildings that originally surrounded the Hôtel Biron, is visible on the other side of the garden, between Les Invalides and the Eiffel Tower, where The Thinker is perched on his pillar among the box trees.
While the Ugolino and His Sons sculpture occupies the center of the decorative pool, passersby on rue de Varenne can catch a peek of the Monument to the Burghers of Calais. The Monument to Balzac stands prominently against the background of Les Invalides, where the woods hide Orpheus.
During his lifetime, Rodin exhibited his sculptures in the garden; the Musée Rodin has carried on this practice, allowing guests to observe how the sculptures interact with their natural environment.
More than 80 Rodin pieces, including bronzes, terra cotta, plaster studies, and watercolor sketches, are housed in the museum collection. The Thinker, The Age of Bronze, The Hand of God, and the life-size plaster of Eve from his masterpiece, The Gates of Hell, are among the well-known sculptures on show in the permanent exhibition. “à Loie Rodin” is written in pencil on The Thinker and The Hand of God plaster sculptures.
The Garden of Rodin Museum
Eight different pieces are on display in the yard outside the museum. “The Thinker” and “The Gates of Hell” have stood in the same places since the museum’s opening in 1929. Still, thanks to recent conservation efforts by the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Adam and The Shade can now be placed back where they originally were inside the Meudon Gate’s arches for the first time since 1963.
Also returning to its former positions on either side of the museum’s entrance overlooking the reflecting pool is The Age of Bronze and Eve. A gigantic version of The Three Shades, a kind loan from Iris Cantor, is displayed on the west side of the building in a room that has been empty for the majority of the last 80 years.
Most of the Rodin Museum Garden is located behind the structure. A large lush lawn area is accessible from the steps coming down from the terrace at the back of the hotel. A sizable ornamental pool is beyond, accessible through paths along the edges.
Entrance fees of Rodin Museum
On-site entry tickets cost 12 euros (13 euros with fast-track access) for every individual.
Groups with a minimum of 10 persons can take guided tours, which must be reserved in advance on the museum’s website. The entry-level package pricing is €340 for a 1h30 visit in French (from 10 people).
To reserve a day and time of visit, including entry tickets at the group rate of €9 per person, each group must pay a booking fee of €35.
Only the first Sunday of every month, from October 1 to March 31, is free to visit the permanent collections and garden.
Those who qualify for free entrance don’t need a ticket, but they will need to present identification when going through the checkpoint.
It is also free for youngsters and teenagers.
For the garden and permanent and temporary collections, the ticket is free for those who are under 18. Teachers and students under the age of 26 from EU nations are free to see the permanent collections and the garden only with valid identification.
An advice for those who visit Rodin Museum
Depending on how much time you spend on the grounds, you can quickly get through the Musée Rodin. The most well-known sculptures, such as “The Kiss,” “The Gates of Hell,” “The Thinker,” and “The Burgher of Calais,” should be seen.