In 1884, Rodin was commissioned by the French city of Calais to create a monument that would pay tribute to heroes of the Hundred Years’ War, and symbols of French patriotism: The Burghers of Calais.
In 1347, the English laid siege to Calais, and after many months, with the townspeople starving, six of the leading citizens (or burghers) offered themselves as hostages to the English King Edward III in exchange for the freedom of the city. The King agreed and ordered the burghers to dress in plain garments, wear nooses around their necks, and travel to his camp with the keys to the city. The King meant to execute the burghers, but his wife persuaded him to spare the men.
Rodin decided to portray the burghers at the moment they are leaving to city, resigned to their fate. They are depicted life-size and wearing the loose sackcloth robes worn by prisoners. Each one has a different pose and expression, but they are all responding physically and emotionally to the idea that they will be sacrificing themselves to save their city.
In this gallery there are several studies and final versions of the burghers. Rodin challenged the traditional conventions of heroic monuments and made an event from the past seem real and present. He placed the men in a circle so that no one figure is the focal point, and the sculpture can be viewed from all sides. He also wanted the figures placed on the ground rather than on a pedestal so that the people of Calais could be face to face with these town heroes.
