Last summer I spent a beautiful couple of hours photographing the Musée Rodin. The rose garden was in bloom and there wasn’t a single cloud in the sky. I arrived at mid-day when the sun was at its height, so the lighting wasn’t ideal – or so I thought. I spent most of my time in the garden taking endless photos of the roses, trying to get the perfect angles, and even though direct sunlight can be difficult to work with, it can yield amazing results if you work a little harder.
This pink rose below was perfectly spotlighted by the sun while the rest of the leaves fell into shadow. It was so naturally theatrical and reminds me of the rose in Beauty and the Beast.
My favorite photo of the day is this one below. You can’t really tell just by looking at it, but in the blurred background is Rodin’s Gates of Hell. I find the visual and metaphorical contrast between a rose garden and the gates to Hell to be so poetic and ironic, in the best way possible.
The interior of the museum is just as beautiful. One of the best things about this museum is the abundance of big windows and natural light. In most other museums, light is limited to preserve the colors in paintings and tapestries, but with sculpture you don’t have to worry about that. There were a handful of paintings, but the bulk of the collection is sculpture.
When I visited, the museum had recently undergone a major restoration. I took time to admire all the intricate details, particularly in the wood paneling. I love that they kept it a natural wood color rather than paint it white – it accentuates the delicate shapes better.
The Musée Rodin is located on a quiet street next to the Hôtel des Invalides (Napoleon’s Tomb) and the opulent Pont Alexandre III.
Musée Rodin
79 rue de Varenne, 75007 Paris
Metro Varenne, Line 13
Bus lines 69, 82, 92
Being an amateur photographer I know what it is to be fed with other’s images. You always seem to take incredible photographs, but what is better is that you have the gift of being able to take the photographs that I myself would take if I were “there”. The corner of the marble fireplace and the french carved panel, the balcony’s intricate iron work and decoration with the gardens in the background. And just the right depth of field.
I just found your blog this morning, but have spent several hours walking around with you in just the Paris portion of your writings. And have bookmarked it several times in my browsers so that I can easily find it.
I will share your blog profusely! Not since Messy Nessy Chic have I enjoyed a blog as much as yours.
Hi Richard. Thank you so so much for your compliments! I’m an admirer of Messy Nessy so that’s very flattering for me. By the way, I’m sure you heard, but she’s coming out with a book! I’m truly happy that you you’ve enjoyed everything you’ve seen so far on my blog. I’ve always been so fascinated by the architectural details in museums, sometimes a little more than the actual artwork, I’m slightly embarrassed to say, especially considering I studied Art History at Uni! :D
Look at all of those beautiful details. What a stunning spot. You captured it so beautifully. I love Rodin, so it was a treat to see some of his work as well. I love this Hannah, and I am so excited to see more of your work.
Thanks Monashee. The amount of beautiful detail everywhere you look is one of the reasons I love Paris and France so much! More cities could benefit from the French way of appreciating and pursuing beauty. Attractive spaces make for happier states of mind (in my experience anyway).