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c. 1910-1914

Les Cathédrales de France

Auguste Rodin

French, 1840 - 1917

The only book that Rodin published during his lifetime, Les Cathédrales de France (1914), included the sculptor's thoughts on the beauties of French medieval architecture, as well as reproductions of drawings that he had made as he traveled through France around 1910 and 1911. The Philadelphia volume contains trial proofs of 136 lithographic facsimiles of Rodin's illustrations. They are printed on the vieux Japon paper that was reserved for a special limited edition of the book. All the sheets are signed or initialed by the artist, indicating his approval, and in several cases the artist has made his corrections in pencil.

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Auguste Rodin, Les Cathédrales de France, c. 1910-1914 | Philadelphia Art Museum