×

Image filter options
This is a new website and is still being developed.
Explore Cynfas Articles Learn
About Us NCAGW Contact Us
cy
EXPLORE CYNFAS ARTICLES LEARN ABOUT US NCAGW CONTACT US
Previous Artwork Next Artwork

Head of Victor Hugo (1802-1885)

RODIN, Auguste

© Amgueddfa Cymru - Museum Wales
×
Zoom InZoom InZoom InZoom In
Zoom OutZoom OutZoom OutZoom Out
HomeHomeHomeHome
Full pageFull pageFull pageFull page
Rotate leftRotate leftRotate leftRotate left
Rotate rightRotate rightRotate rightRotate right
PreviousPreviousPreviousPrevious
NextNextNextNext

The great French author Victor Hugo was a passionate Republican and his epic novels highlight the social and political injustices of his time. When Napoleon III seized power in 1851, Hugo declared him a traitor. He lived in exile in Guernsey until the fall of the Second Empire in 1870, returning to Paris as the hostilities of the Franco-Prussian War were escalating Hugo was unwilling to sit and pose for his portrait so Rodin worked from quick sketches. The artist stated, 'I thought I had seen a French Jupiter; when I knew him better he seemed more like Hercules'. The bust conveys the dignified status of this great author and French national hero, who wrote epics such as 'Les Miserables' and 'Notre-Dame de Paris'. Sir William Goscombe John described it as 'about his finest in that genre and celebrated the world over. It is a splendidly honest work'.


We have a duty of care to all our audiences. This website draws on legacy collections data. We recognise that some of this information may be outdated or discriminatory and we're currently working to review our records. If you have any questions or comments on an artwork, please contact us.

Details

Collection

Amgueddfa Cymru - Museum Wales

Item Number

NMW A 304

Creation/Production

RODIN, Auguste
Date: 1883 ca

Acquisition

Gift, 1934
Given by Sir William Goscombe John

Measurements

Height (cm): 32
Width (cm): 20
Length (cm): 17
Height (in): 12
Width (in): 7
Length (in): 6
Height (cm): 19
Width (cm): 27.7
Length (cm): 15.2
Height (in): 7
Width (in): 10
Length (in): 6

Techniques

cast
forming
Applied Art

Material

bronze
wood

Location

In store
More

Tags

  • Arts And Entertainment
  • Fine Art
  • Literature
  • Man
  • People
  • Portrait
  • Rodin, Auguste
  • Sculpture
  • Writer

Share

Comments are currently unavailable. We apologise for the inconvenience.

More like this

St Davids Cathedral
Paul, SANDBY,
By permission of Amgueddfa Cymru — Museum Wales
Miserere
Il serait si doux d'aimer!
ROUAULT, Georges
lL'Éoile Filante, Paris
Aulard, Paris
© ADAGP, Paris and DACS, London 224/Amgueddfa Cymru - Museum Wales
Miserere
Bella matribus detestata
ROUAULT, Georges
lL'Éoile Filante, Paris
Aulard, Paris
© ADAGP, Paris and DACS, London 224/Amgueddfa Cymru - Museum Wales
Two Heads
Two Heads
JOHN, Augustus
© Estate of Augustus John. All Rights Reserved 2025/Bridgeman Images/Amgueddfa Cymru - Museum Wales
Jason Thompson
Jason Thompson
Peter, VAN AGTMAEL
© Peter Van Agtmael / Magnum Photos / Amgueddfa Cymru - Museum Wales
War veterans in Merthyr Tydfil, 1993
War veterans in Merthyr Tydfil, 1993
JONES GRIFFITHS, Philip
© Philip Jones Griffiths / Magnum Photos / Amgueddfa Cymru - Museum Wales
USA. CALIFORNIA. Santa Monica. Fishing off the pier. 1980.
Fishing off the pier. Santa Monica. California, USA
HURN, David
© David Hurn / Magnum Photos / Amgueddfa Cymru - Museum Wales
Study of Woman with No Facial Features
Study of woman with no facial features
JOHN, Gwen
© Amgueddfa Cymru - Museum Wales
GB. WALES. Cardiff. A man, perhaps a father, clutches a large cuddly toy, as he waits for a bus to take him to some unknown destination. 1973.
A man, perhaps a father, clutches a large cuddly toy, as he waits for a bus to take him to some unknown destination. Cardiff, Wales
HURN, David
© David Hurn / Magnum Photos / Amgueddfa Cymru - Museum Wales
New York City, USA
New York City, USA
DAVIDSON, Bruce
© Bruce Davidson / Magnum Photos / Amgueddfa Cymru - Museum Wales
Untitled
Untitled
JOHN, Augustus
© Estate of Augustus John. All Rights Reserved 2025/Bridgeman Images/Amgueddfa Cymru - Museum Wales
Figures in Discussion
Figures in discussion
JOHN, Augustus
© Estate of Augustus John. All Rights Reserved 2025/Bridgeman Images/Amgueddfa Cymru - Museum Wales
The Canadian Girl
The Canadian Girl
EPSTEIN, Jacob
© Estate of Sir Jacob Epstein/Tate/Amgueddfa Cymru - Museum Wales
Exterior View and Inside Plan of NMW
Exterior view and inside plan of NMW
HEPWORTH, P.D
A, DUNBAR SMITH
BREWER, Cecil
© Amgueddfa Cymru - Museum Wales
USA. ARIZONA. Community College Fitness class.  A positive aspects of American senior citizens is their realisation that the correct exercise is not only useful to prolong active life but is also fun.
Community College Fitness class. Phoenix, Arizona USA
HURN, David
© David Hurn / Magnum Photos / Amgueddfa Cymru - Museum Wales
Peasant Boy
Peasant boy
MUYDEN, Alfred van
© Amgueddfa Cymru - Museum Wales
GB. WALES. Llanharry. Giant Vegetable competition. Tallest Sunflowers. 1997.
Giant vegetable competition. Tallest Sunflowers. Llanharry, Wales
HURN, David
© David Hurn / Magnum Photos / Amgueddfa Cymru - Museum Wales
GB. WALES. Abertillery. Family climbing to the top of a slag heap with a piece of board to use it as a slide. 1977.
Family climbing to the top of a slag heap with a piece of board to use it as a slide. Abertillery, Wales
HURN, David
© David Hurn / Magnum Photos / Amgueddfa Cymru - Museum Wales
Ships outward bound from Cardiff approaching Penarth Head, Glamorgan
Ships outward bound from Cardiff approaching Penarth Head, Glamorgan
PETHERICK, John
© Amgueddfa Cymru - Museum Wales
We’re working on releasing this image.
Two women seated in church
JOHN, Gwen

CELF AR Y CYD

  • Explore
  • Cynfas Articles
  • Learn

THE WEBSITE

  • About Us
  • Accessibility
  • NCAGW
  • FAQ
  • Copyright
  • Cookies Policy

CONNECT WITH US

  • Contact Us
  • Instagram @celfarycyd
× ❮ ❯