Introduction
According to the book garden’s through ages the best way tell art history is by organizing vast artistic monument in accordance with civilization which produced them and by arranging them in a chronological manner. This idea is clearly evident in Robin’s burgher of Calais. The burghers of Calais are the historic modernist response to a public commemoration sculpture. It is a commemoration of the a hundred years of fighting between the French and the English forces. The French city of Calais was under siege by the British for over a year. To save the city king Edward of England demanded that a key to the great gate of the city be handed to him by nude men and the sculpture shows the first volunteer Eustache de Saint Pierre beckoning others to follow suit. The burgers were to be executed but the queen intervened and they were pardoned.
The burghers of Calais were created by the greatest artist of all time known as Rodin and the sculpture is the most successful of Rodin’s pubic sculpture ever. The monument was erected in 1884 following a directive by the mayor to put it their honor. It was a commemoration of heroism for the 1347 heroes led by Eustache de Saint Pierre. It was a bronze sculpture of up to 4 feet high that stands piquantly at Calais France and officially commissioned in 1889 by the mayor of Calais. (Gardner, 2008 pg.47)The artist robin had followed the history of the wars between France and England that led to the honoring of these heroes. This account in history has it that England’s reigning king in the 14th century. After a tough battle at Crecy the English forces under siege the city of Calais and the king of France Philip VI of France ordered that anything be done to restore the city. His tactical retreat failed and the town was forced to surrender after it was siege for a whole year and the town surrendered due to hunger. The king of England offered to spare the city of Calais if six people would surrender the key to gate and present themselves as sacrificial for execution and the city will be set free. The famous six burgers led by Eustache de Saint Pierre offered themselves for execution. This is the event that marked the erection of the sculpture to their honour. However they were later spared after the queen intervened on their behalf. Thus Rodin was a scholarly anthropologies and a celebrated artist that captured these memories in a most outstanding manner and displayed the highest level of expertise (Gardner, 2008 pg.47)
At the time the art was being created the councils was in charge of the art work and the power and authority to commission an artist. Robin was to create an art that would commemorate the heroes of the England and French war. His work was clear and portrayed the manner which the six burgher where dedicated and willing to leave there city and even losing their lives for the sake of the city getting their freedom. At that time the council had a different point of view of the sculpture to be a monument to the leader of the six burghers thus causing Robin to adjust to Froissart’s text and include to total sum of six characters. The city at that particular time was political challenged by another king who got hostage the six citizens of the city of Calais. (Gardner, 2008 pg.47)
Calais city was under difficult economic period due to the shortage of water and foods therefore getting exploitation from England. They were only get support from the rich in the city of which was not enough to sustain the entire economy of the city. On a culture perspective their cultural practices were defied by being asked remove their clothing and putting on heavy garments. The artist and his art were highly affected by the negative criticisms he received from his critics on the academic style.
The depicted subject in this act is the self-sacrifice made by the six burghers for the salvation of their people and city. Their effort didn’t go in vain since the rest of the people (rich person) did recognize them and seek to intervene by offering to stripe off their shirt and walk bare foot in their place. The Calais municipal council did recognize the art of robin though they differed at certain occasions. The art also clearly outline the good governor on unity among the people of that city with a mutual objective and importance of unity in hand to defeat a common enemy. The hero aspect arise where by the six did all that was in the capacity to deliver them from the hand of the enemy. (Gardner, 2008 pg.47)
Though Robin’s artwork was widely accepted by most members of the public, it also received a lot of criticism. What was accepted was the clear presentation of Eustache de Saint-Pierre, the oldest as the most important among the six important burghers of Calais. His work clearly showed Eustache de Saint-Pierre striding forward from the rest of the group depicting as a hero. Heads that Robin used to emasculate his work forming a pyramid was submission to the law of academic school. Those who were learned and understood how art work should be presented said that he used David Louis method which is a very good way of presenting such art work instead of the cube. Historians like Leo for instance, said that he showed innovation.
Robin’s critics however argue that his genius lies in the representation and not the stories that he tells. They see his style as a way of creating and not a way of conveying a message. The formal elements of the sculpture looked more important and so they did not approve to his work saying it was too rhetorical, full of narratives and overwhelmed by themes and emotions. (Gardner, 2008 pg.44)Robin’s work fits in the history of art because it depicts what was happening in the 18th century because it commemorates the life of a local hero the popularly known Burgers of Calais. This art work relates to the art work on the Life of Christ (Incarnation and childhood) described in the book, Gardener’s through the ages. The two works are similar in that both of them try to bring out one hero from among many. Christians believe that Jesus is hero because he offered himself to die to safe humanity. Eustache de Saint-Pierre also died while fighting for the freedom of his people. These artworks also differ in a number of ways; one is that the sculptures were designed by different artists. While Burgers Calais addresses issues of political freedom the work on freedom of Christ addresses issues of religion. They were also presented in different styles. Robin used David’s method of presenting artwork which is very dynamic as opposed to the artwork on Life of Christ which was done using the common methods (Gardner, 2008 pg.47)
In conclusion, Rodin's Burghers of Calais according to the book Gardener’s through the ages though it was designed d long ago is still very relevant. It is an expression of talent in presenting certain issues affecting the society and a way of honoring heroes who have made history.
Works Cited
Gardner, Helen, Horst Croix, and Richard G. Tansey. Gardner's Art through the ages. 13th ed. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 2008. Print.
