Spring Break
Can A Dead Man Sculpt? Maybe
Daniella Henry
Issue date: 9/26/07 Section: News
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Since he first saw it in Jacksonville in 1999, Gary Arseneau has been following the Rodin exhibit that is presently at the Benton and claiming it is a fraud. Arseneau takes issue with the fact that one of the Rodin sculptures was made in 1996 even though the artist died in 1917.
"At best it was a reproduction," he said.
Arseneau, who considers himself an artist, author and scholar, said the exhibit promotes the fraud by presenting at least 54 sculptures that were made after Rodin's death.
But others, including Benton Museum Director Steven Kern, don't seem to mind that the sculpture was manufactured almost a century after its designer died.
"In Rodin's world, creating and manufacturing were completely separate," Kern said. "Rodin never set foot in a foundry and believed the work should be cast by the artist and then made by talented craftsmen."
Kern added that there is usually a division of labor in bronze work and that bronze sculptures were not unique in the 19th century.
According to Kern, Rodin struck a deal with the French government during his lifetime that allowed his sculptures to be produced after his death - as long as the government built a Rodin museum.
"Rodin was responding to the market." Kern said. "There are 36 'Thinker's one of Rodin's most famous work that are all authentic."
Arseneau isn't convinced the sculptures should be considered authentic.
"The exhibit is offering the public Rodin but giving them something you could find at a gift shop," Arseneau said.
Kern said that although Arseneau is entitled to his opinion, he is not taking the intentions of the artist into consideration.
According to Kern, all of the sculptures are properly identified and none are frauds. There are at least four places where complete information about the exhibit is available, including a video, pamphlet, Web site and a large panel at the entrance of the exhibit, he said.
Joshua Shulman, a 3rd-semester political science major, said that as long as the information was posted clearly he would have no problem with the authenticity of the sculptures.
"It's actually really interesting that they were allowed to make sculptures after Rodin's death," Shulman said.
There has been no negative response or curiosity from anyone who has attended the exhibit, Kern said. However, he said the allegations do open up a discussion of what an original actually is.
"The Rodin exhibit helps [the Benton Museum] complete our role as an educator on this campus," Kern said.
The Rodin exhibit will be on display until Dec. 16 and was brought to the university by the Iris & B. Gerald Cantor Foundation.
Contact Daniella Henry at
Daniella.Henry@UConn.edu.
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