Rodin_2011

23. Female Nude with Arms Raised Posed on a Pedestal (Femme Nue aux bras levés posant sur un socle)

c. 1900 Graphite on wove paper 12 5 ⁄ 8

x 9 ¼ inches ( 32 x 23 . 4 cm) Dedicated and signed lower right: homage à /madame et Monsieur mon/collègue Walther/amitié/A. Rodin

provenance Gift of the artist to Johannes Walther ( 18 6 0 – 1937 ), c. 1905 –6; Private Collection

This drawing was probably given by Rodin to the important geologist J. Walther, professor at the University of I’ena from 1905 –6. In 1905 , Rodin was appointed a member of the Conseil Supérieur des Beaux-Arts and awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the University of Iéna. In return he donated a sculpted bust of Minerva. This drawing typifies the style of the years from 189 6– 1900 . As was his habit, Rodin drew a series of works inspired by a rapidly done first sketch. A related work for which this drawing might be seen as a preliminary study, is in the collection of the Musée Rodin ( di500 ) where one also sees the pedestal that appears here.