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Showing posts from August, 2026

Michelangelo and Rodin at the Louvre "Living bodies"

Michelangelo and Rodin were both sculptors who pushed the boundaries of their art, although four centuries separated them. The exhibition at the Louvre brings them together in a powerful dialogue. Both wanted to represent the truth of life and emotion even if it meant distorting their figures:  Rodin's figure of Adam, in bronze, and Michelangelo's Rebel Slave, marble  Michelangelo's expressive style was later called 'Mannerist', or 'la bella maniera' as it was called at the Renaissance and much imitated. His contorted, straining figure of the Rebel Slave is a permanent fixture in the Louvre, since 1794: Michelangelo: The Rebel Slave 1513-15 marble  Louvre Its companion piece in the Louvre is the Dying or Sleeping slave, once destined for the tomb of pope Julius II: Michelangelo: The Sleeping, or Dying slave, 1513-5 The statues are now back in place in the Denon wing of the Louvre. Both Degas and Cezanne sketched the slaves of Michelangelo in the Louvre. Here...