considered the first truly modern sculptor.”
“We’re lucky to join a number of museums around the globe that have benefited from Rodin exhibits organized The Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Foundation, which has by the Cantor foundation,” Parsons said. “This exhibit amassed the world’s most comprehensive collection of is designed to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Rodins in private hands, organized the national touring Rodin’s death in 2017.” exhibit. Bronx-born B. Gerald Cantor (1916-1996), who rose from hot dog seller at Yankee Stadium to prominent SAMA does not own any Rodins, although the McNay Wall Street financier, began collecting Rodin after seeing Art Museum does, including a miniature version of The his Hand of God in 1947 at New York’s Metropolitan Burghers of Calais, commissioned by the French city to Museum of Art. commemorate an event in 1347 during the Hundred Years War when six leading citizens volunteered to be Over the years, the Cantors and the foundation acquired put to death by the English King Edward III in exchange more than 750 Rodin-related sculptures, drawings, for ending an 11-month siege. Instead of depicting the prints and archive documents and distributed some city leaders as heroic, Rodin’s figures are despondent 450 works to more than 70 museums around the and tormented as they are marched to their death – world. Major donations included the establishment although they were spared at the last moment. of the largest center for Rodin research in the United States at Stanford University, as well as significant “This exhibit includes some large-scale studies for Rodin collections at the Brooklyn Museum of Art, North the figures,” Parsons said. “Rodin used local citizens of Carolina Museum of Art and New York’s Metropolitan. Calais for his models. We won’t be putting glass over The Cantors have been major supporters of the Musée the sculptures, so visitors will be able to walk around Rodin in Paris, which re-opened last fall after three them and see them in detail from all angles.” years of renovation. March April 2016 | On The Town 69