The Sculpture 'Bourgeois de Calais'- How Many Hands Were Cast?
What Is the 'Bourgeois de Calais'?
Auguste Rodin created Les Bourgeois de Calais between 1884 and 1889. The sculpture commemorates a real event from 1347 during the Hundred Years' War. Six wealthy citizens of Calais offered themselves as hostages to King Edward III in exchange for sparing their city from destruction.
The monument shows these six men preparing to walk to their probable deaths. Rodin captured them at the exact moment of their sacrifice, not as heroes, but as ordinary men wrestling with fear and duty.
How Many Casts Exist?
Multiple casts of the sculpture exist. Rodin authorized reproductions during his lifetime, and more were made after his death. The official number of authorized casts is 12.
These are not copies in the cheap sense. Each cast is considered an original work, made under Rodin's supervision or with proper authorization from the Musée Rodin.
Where the Major Casts Are Located
| Location | Notes |
|---|---|
| Musée Rodin, Paris | Original 1889 version |
| Calais, France | First cast, displayed near city hall |
| National Museum of Fine Arts, Philadelphia | Donated by Jules Mastbaum, 1928 |
| Tate Modern, London | Part of permanent collection |
| Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen | Danish collection |
| Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York | Installed 1940 |
| Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum | Japanese collection |
Other casts sit in museums in Liège, Zurich, and various private collections. Each location displays the work differently—some on pedestals, others at ground level as Rodin originally intended.
How Many Figures Are in the Sculpture?
The work contains six male figures, one for each burgher who volunteered. Their names were Eustache de Saint-Pierre, Jacques de Wissant, Jean de Vienne, Pierre de Wissant, Andrieu d'Andres, and Eustache de Saint-Pierre's nephew.
Each figure shows a different emotional response to their fate:
- One man accepts his death with quiet resolve
- Another clutches his keys to Calais as a final act of duty
- A younger figure buries his face in his hands
- An older man steps forward, already resigned
Rodin refused to make any figure a hero. He wanted them raw and human.
The "How Many Hands" Question
You might be asking about actual hands—the physical casts of hands from the original. Here's the deal:
Rodin sculpted each hand individually. During the casting process, artisans created separate molds for each hand, arm, and torso section. The original plaster model contains hundreds of individual piece-molds.
For each bronze cast produced, artisans used these same molds (or reproductions of them). So yes, hundreds of hands have been cast over the years—but they all come from the same six figures.
Getting Started: Seeing the Work Yourself
If you want to experience Les Bourgeois de Calais in person:
- In Paris: Visit the Musée Rodin. The original is displayed in a special room with controlled lighting.
- In Philadelphia: The Rodin Museum offers free admission and the sculpture sits in their garden.
- In Calais: The first cast stands in a public square near the city hall.
The best view is at eye level, walking around the entire group. Rodin designed it to be seen from multiple angles, and each side reveals something different.
Why So Many Casts?
Rodin was practical about his legacy. He knew the originals in plaster would deteriorate. Bronze lasts centuries. By authorizing multiple casts, he ensured the work would survive.
He also needed money. Selling reproduction rights funded his studio and let him experiment with other projects. This was controversial in his time—artists weren't supposed to "mass produce" their work.
Today, the multiple casts are accepted as part of Rodin's artistic legacy. Each one carries his vision forward.