Auguste Rodin (1840–1917) was the preeminent French sculptor of the late nineteenth century, celebrated for his expressive bronze and marble figures that redefined the possibilities of modern sculpture. Initially trained as a decorative craftsman and repeatedly denied admission to the École des Beaux-Arts, Rodin developed an independent artistic voice shaped in part by his study of Michelangelo and Donatello. A major state commission in 1880 marked a turning point in his career and established his reputation as a leading sculptor in France.

Rodin also produced powerful portrait monuments of figures, demonstrating an ability to convey psychological presence through form. Though often controversial in his lifetime, his emphasis on the expressive potential of the human body c a profound influence on modern sculpture, and his works remain widely cast and collected by major museums worldwide.