The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-04
ROBIN gives FRANCE
ALL HIS ART WORKS.
Building in Which They Are
Displayed to Bear His Name
Henccf0rth.
OLD CONTROVERSY ENDED

r,r,s. April 3.--AuGuste Rodin. the
,%u'ptor. has executed . deed Of gift to
IL. Government Of all his own WORKS,
A., objects he has acquired and the
famous Hotel Biron. in which they are
:!splaycd. The building will be called
Tho Nuscc Rodin hereafter.
He retains the studio. but the rest Of
he large building and the grounds that
Surround It become public property.
Thus before his death Rodin assures
.he fame which the French people Cor
many years hcs,tated to accord him.
His magnificent gift was frst offered
IN 1905. A. that time he asked that he
to allowed to occupy the famous Hotel
Riron until his death. provided that he
,hould leave his sculpture. sketches and
p;her art worls. as well 10 those he had
collected. TO the Government
The Idea that q French artist. no
natter how famous. should dictate to
the Government terms Of a Gift which
would make him famous was dtsta steful
to tho French people. There vas .
rrcnS campaign against the accept
snce OF tho gift. 1t 10 true that
there was q Victor Hugo Museum and q
Maison de Balzac, but these were estab-
lshed after the death OF the men for
whom they were named. II was contrary
to the French idea that an artist should
sec himself SO dow to posterity a. the
rai,rs de sculpture Of the early
twentieth century.
TIE attack upon Rodin increased in
bitterness and several times tho sculptor
threatened TO pack up bag n baggage
md move TO Italy unless h Goven-
nert accepted his gilt.
Ie always rcfrainei from leaving his
beloved home. and then began a counter
campaign OF his own bringing the high
p, members of the Government to the
Hotel Biron. showing them what he
planned to do and arguing them into
kcoucscence. Finally. about two years
ago. the Government consented TO 90
ecr. his GIFT on his wi terms.
The Hotel Biron Is a famous building
~ magnificent proportions. II belonged
10 the family OF the Duo de Biron at
The time OF the American Revolutionary
war. and then became the homo OF the
Iur de Lauzun. Then It was success
svely the nunciature. the home OF the
Russian Embassy. and vas later &C.
eiried by the DANES de Sacre C1ur.
After the separation OF church and
state in 1905 the DANES de Sacre
trur were driven out. and the place
stood vacant until 1908. when Rodir
secured permission from the Govern.
freut TO occupy II as a studio. Soor
after his occupancy began lie offered
% leave his objects OF art 20 the Gov
rrgmcnt on condition that he be nj.
lowed 70 live there rent free and
- condition the Hotel Biron be called
after his death the Rodin Museum.
Among the famous pieces sculpturet
~ l;odin. which were owned by thu
French Government before the accept
srce OF this gift, are lie Baiser." "Da'
ra!!cs,' 4 head Of Jean Paul Jaurena
ne renseur" and "Homme au Ne,
Case"
The Hotel Biron IL full OF his works
and others only just begun. He has ar
Interesting collection OF specimens oI
early Greek art. He also has con
siderable Egyptian statuary. some won
derful tapestries, modern paintings ant
~.ngravings.
Rodln. who is now 80 years old. wa
moro than so when fame began 70 com
70 him. He was an uncared for stree
child OF Paris and Ms frs, job was mix
lrr clay in a studio. The first model h,
offered was rejected by the Academ.
o. Fin Arts. Cndaunted. he strus
Sled on through the years. suffering al
the tor;ures of poverty. but content il
= knowledge that recognition woul'
surely come to him Come day. Fo
ra7y years he supported himself pro
Gucing models for a Sevres factory
Teen suddenly he lcaped into prominenc
~ his "Age of Bronze" but not int
fame, This piece, although accepts
hy The Academy. so aytounded the jur
h. rs perfection OF form that he wa
focused OF having cast II from a liv
.Gc model. This was in 1877. Ridicu
iols as the charge was. IL served to throy
Inn into general disfavor. Then slowl
the tide began to turn in his favor
I'D IN the early '90s he was regarde
Is the leading Sculntor OF France.