Fallen Caryatid Carrying Her Stone

1880–81?

Auguste Rodin

(French, 1840–1917)

Culture

France, 19th century

Medium

bronze

Measurements

Overall: 43.5 x 29.2 x 31.8 cm (17 1/8 x 11 1/2 x 12 1/2 in.)

Credit Line

In memory of Ralph King, gift of Mrs. Ralph King; Ralph T. Woods, Charles G. King; and Frances King Schafer 1946.352

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Location

Not on view

Description

A caryatid is a column in classical Greek architecture carved to resemble a female figure. Rodin originally designed Fallen Caryatid Carrying Her Stone to serve as one of the figures on his monumental sculptural doorway The Gates of Hell. While Greek caryatids are typically draped, Rodin stripped the body of clothing and depicted the caryatid crushed under the weight of a stone, symbolically suggesting a state of physical suffering or emotional anguish. He exhibited Fallen Caryatid as an independent sculpture as early as 1883 and produced multiple versions in marble and bronze.