Auguste Rodin's 'The Burghers of Calais' was owned by the city's museums ever since it was displayed at the Glasgow International Exhibition in 1901. After a Freedom of Information request, it has come to light that the sculpture - also titled 'Le Bourgeois de Calais' - was among a total of 1,750 items missing or stolen that were owned by Glasgow Life - the company running Glasgow's museums and art galleries.
The plaster work dates back to the 1880s by the renowned artist and it depicts the plight of residents of Calais during its 11-month siege by England as part of the Hundred Years' War. Work on the sculpture began in 1884 and was finished in 1889. In total, twelve original casts of Rodin's work were made over the years - including one which stands near the Houses of Parliament in Victoria Tower Gardens. Rodin later became famous for his ‘Thinker’ sculpture, but prior to this, he was allowed under French law to make different versions of ‘Le Bourgeois’ in plaster and bronze.
The loss of The Burghers of Calais has been described as 'utterly shameful' by the Comité Rodin which publicises the work of Auguste Rodin. Jerome Le Blay, the Comite’s director, said: "We lose a bit of humanity when we lose a work of art. Museums may have 100.000 items, so occasionally things get dropped or get lost in shipping. Art is often destroyed in acts of war - that’s life - but when it goes missing as a result of mishandling or mismanagement by people it is utterly shameful."
A spokesperson for Glasgow Life said: "The plaster sculptures Le Bourgeois de Calais and Saint Jean de Baptiste by Auguste Rodin were both exhibited in Kelvingrove Park in 1949. The Sculpture in the Open Air exhibition ran from 25 June to 30 September 1949. Le Bourgeois de Calais suffered damage while on display in this exhibition and at present is unlocated."
Anna Melnykova, "Palace of Labor (palats praci), architector I. Pretro, 1916", shot with analog Canon camera, 35 mm Fuji film in March 2022.
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