The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-05-07

ECOOI ANO EAA ~
On exh
TINE news that the Government Of
France and Rodin. the great sculp-
tor, had reached an agreement in
regard to the formation Of the Rodin
Museum in the old Hotel Biron has al.
ready been flashed across seas by the
cables. The erroneous statsmsas tAat
Rodin had peVssatsd the Preach Qevesa.
ment with the Hotel Biroa decsivsd 40
one in the world Of art. for the tentativss
in regard to the proposed museum had
been too long understood.
Rodin has given the Government his
private collection Of art, the objects that
he accumulated during twenty year,, that
influenced his thought and helped him to
form his style. It 10 understood too that
he gives all Of his designs and preparatory
sketches and hat several galleries will be
devoted to the famous drawings. In ex-
change the Government has coded the
Hotel Biron for twenty-five years to him
to house these works Of art. In effect it
will be q permanent museum.
The Hotel Biron was Of course already
Government property. 1t was designed
originally by Jacques Gabriel at the be-.
ginning Of the reign Of Louis XIV. for .
great taxgatherer. After the death Of
his man Of finance it vent to the Duchesse
du Maine, and then the Marechal Duo de
Biron. Under the Revolution it became
Q place for balls and coacerts. In 1900
the Due de Bethune lived there. then q
Pope's legate. then in 1870 the Ambassador
Of Russia. Then came the Community Of
Sacre CGur. and for almost q century the
place was given over to the prayers and
quiet occupations Of the IN
Finally when the Government acquired
it it was decided to let the Hotel Biron,
and in that way Rodin came there to work
and surrounded himself in the ancient
rooms with his collections. But mercenary
spirits were on the watch. This adorable
park in the heart Of the city was just 70
much land to build upoa. thought they.
In 1907 they obtained the right to auction
of the lots and Rodin had to decamp.
The charming building was about to be
levelled and replaced by q quarter hid.
eously new" writes Louis Vauxcelles.
Arsene Alexandra in the Figaro attributes
the ultimate winning Of the Hotel Biron
for the Rodin collections to the tenacity
Of M. Dalimier. N. Vauxcelles, however,
gives q long list Of those who worked for
Rodin. mentioning Poincare. Monet. Ros.
tand. Claretie, Verhaeren, Anatole France.
Bernard. Raffaelli. Pierre Louys. zuloaga,
Nine. de Noailles. Loie Fuller. land
twenty others. sl Of the elite." he adds.
The occasion has been seised by the
Partisan journalists to eulogise the now
aged sculptor and most Of them nave been
interviewing him. To q writer in the
Hath he frankly showed some Of the salts
faction. very legitimate surely. that he
feels in realizing that he is self.made.
I'm the early days." Rodin said. II never
sold any Of the things ! made. Then. little
by little. buyers came from the corners Of
Europe. and from America. where they
have my productions in the museums.
And notwithstanding I did not win the
Pix de Rome. I continued my studies.
quand meme. working under the impulsion
Of my ideas. giving form to my thoughts.
And for that reason I was always con-
sdered . mar apart"
Arsene Alexandra, the famous critic Of
the Figaro. reminds the public of Robins
early struggles. THE beginning of his
career was full Of creation and trials; the
end has been full Of triumphs. In that he
was happier than his great predecessors.
Puget, Houdon, Rude. Barge and Carpeaux,
who only knew the first part Of their des-
tinies and who were beneath the earth
when the second part, their recompense.
fourished. In other days q qustrsin.
valued more because it was true than be-
cause it was beautiful. was 20 much a
matter Of tradition that one could scarcely
publish the portrait Of q great mar without
adding beneath it these lines:
Q les p%ersecute. on les tue,
Sauf apres un long examen
A leur dresser une statue,
Pour lie gloire du genre human.
"Rodin, 20 justly honored in his old
nge. puts this ouatrain in desuetude. Let
Us hope that It remains there long. Perse.