The Gates of Hell

Today our class exemplified the pursuit of knowledge in all of its purity by wrestling through the frozen gale of Philadelphia to journey to the Rodin Museum. This museum was special in that it contains the Bronze sculpture by Auguste Rodin named “The Gates of Hell.” At first, I was astonished by the pure size of the monumental sculpture. However, after getting over my initial shock, I was able to appreciate the artistic beauty of each individual sculpture. The Gates of Hell is unique in that although it stands as a singular work of art, it is a combination of smaller pursuits in artistic beauty. It is the culmination of the sculptures within the gate that encapsulates viewers. Although I respected Ugolino and the Three Shades in their artistic positioning, it was the sculpture at the bottom left corner that continuously held me in awe. Covered in a cloth, the woman held a wheel and had what looked like wings attached to her back. The cloth shrouds this character in mystery and it is this secret that continuously attracts me. Speculations are endless and the woman can easily be interpreted as an Angel of Fortune. However, I may never be able to realize Rodin’s true intentions for this specific character. Nonetheless, this entire sculpture is remarkable not only for its size and detail, but also its artistic positioning and the sense of mystery it encapsulates. I truly enjoyed this journey to the Rodin Museum as my first Lawrenceville field trip.