A RODIN STATUE OF VERDUN

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 217, 7 June 1919, Page 9

A RODIN STATUE OF VERDUN

After the war of 1870 (writes "S.H." in tho "Manchester Guardian") Rodin was a competitor among the sculptors who desired' to oreato the monument celebrating France's defence. Naturally his proposed design was rejected. To-day, however, tho dead Rodin is recognised as tho greatest master of the century, and the old dcsign has been discovered. It is suggested that it might well be called "Verdun." The trouble is that his model is not three feet in height, and although by tho Colas process one can faithfully enlarge a small piece of statuary, the idea of doing so without Rodin to direct tho operation and to add. tho necessary retouches before tho work is finally cast does not oommend itself to the majority of artists. Who will mako these necessary corrections? It is a grave respon. sibility to meddle with the unfinished creations of .a man liko Rodin, Some natural feeling has been aroused, and although it is a pity to neglect a design which so perfectly expresses the spirit of the heroic defenco there would scom to be grave artistic arid sentimental objections to tho course proposed.