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The clouds
Artist: RODIN, Auguste (1840-1917)
This marble group had this title '(Les Nuages)' in 1902 when it was still at Rodin's Paris studio and was included in Charles Quentin's article 'New Work by Auguste Rodin'. He commented: 'Les Nuages are represented by two female figures side by side, one kneeling, the other half-seated...The effect of the whole outline is wonderful, giving as it does the idea of changing, drifting clouds'. This work was purchased by Gwendoline Davies in 1913.
Image: © Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales
Image: © Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales
Image: © Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales
Collection Area
Art
Item Number
NMW A 2510
Creation/Production
RODIN, Auguste
Role: Creation
Date:
Acquisition
Bequest, 10/4/1952
Measurements
Height: 75.5cm
Width: 103cm
Depth: 73cm
Height: 92.5 (base)cm
Width: 115 (base)cm
Depth: 80.5 (base)cm
Material
marble
Location
Gallery 12
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Comments - (4)
Thank you very much for your enquiry. There are no terminal figures of animals on the sculpture itself, and the sculpture is no longer on the red marble table described in the auction catalogue. I have passed your comment on to one of our curators to see if we have any further information on this former support.
Many thanks,
Marc
Digital Team
The 1913 Christie’s auction catalogue, which contains an image of the sculpture, describes it as two females, one of them winged, clasped in an embrace, resting upon clouds. It further states the group are in white statuary marble on a red veined marble table, supported by terminal figures of animals in white marble. Does this tie in with your sculpture? The part that appears missing is the "terminal figures of animals in white marble" which support either the table or the sculpture of the two females itself.
Are you able to comment on this please?
Laurie McCallum, Christchurch NZ
Hi there Laurie,
Thank you for your enquiry.
Here are the relevant details from our collection records, via the Department of Art:
"George McCulloch sale, Christie's, bought by Hugh Blaker on behalf of Gwendoline Davies, 23 May 1913 (101), for £3045-0-0 (Bill: Davies archive), Catalogue ref No. 101 page 34, actually titled The Kiss not The Clouds."
Best wishes
Sara
Digital Team
Hi, Presumably this came from the collection of George McCulloch 1848-1907 as described in the Royal Scottish Academy list of exhibited art, 1917 page 343 and was purchased when his widow, by then Mrs Coutts Michie, sold his collection at Christie's in 1913. The Clouds though is not in the Christie's catalogue nor the 1909 catalogue for the Royal Academy exhibition of the McCulloch Collection and presumably was sold privately to the Davies Sisters?
Regards Laurie McCallum