The Burghers of Calais

Lore & Background

The sculpture was commissioned by the City of Calais in 1884, after earlier attempts to erect a statue of Eustache de Saint Pierre had failed. Rodin's design, which included all six figures rather than just Saint Pierre, was controversial because it lacked overtly heroic antique references and allegorical figures, and was intended to be placed at ground level rather than on a pedestal. The burghers were not presented in a positive image of glory; instead, they display pain, anguish, and fatalism, which Rodin considered heroic as self-sacrifice.

The monument was installed in Calais in 1895 on a large pedestal in front of Parc Richelieu, contrary to Rodin's wish that contemporary townsfolk would almost bump into the figures and feel solidarity with them. Only later was his vision realized when the sculpture was moved in front of the newly completed town hall of Calais, where it rests on a much lower base. Under French law, no more than 12 original casts of works by Rodin may be made; the 1895 cast still stands in Calais, and other original casts are located in museums and public spaces around the world.

Reader's Guide

The Burghers of Calais is significant as a landmark of public sculpture that broke with 19th-century conventions of heroic monumentality. Rodin's decision to depict the six burghers at ground level, without pedestal or allegory, and to emphasize their psychological anguish rather than triumphal glory, marked a shift toward modernism in public art. The sculpture commemorates a specific historical event—the surrender of Calais in 1347 during the Hundred Years' War—but its theme of self-sacrifice for the common good has universal resonance. The work's legacy is also shaped by its multiple casts, which have spread Rodin's vision across Europe, North America, and Asia. The controversy over its initial installation and the eventual realization of Rodin's intent reflect changing attitudes toward public art and audience engagement. The sculpture remains a touchstone for discussions of heroism, suffering, and the role of art in memorializing difficult history.

Did You Know?

• The sculpture was commissioned by the City of Calais in 1884 and completed in 1889.
• Rodin's design included all six burghers, not just Eustache de Saint Pierre, which was controversial.
• The burghers expected to be executed, but their lives were spared by England's Queen Philippa of Hainault, who persuaded her husband to show mercy.
• Under French law, no more than 12 original casts of Rodin's works may be made; the final cast was made in 1995.