Sculptures, other works by noted Rodin peer go on show

Apollo [Photo provided to China Daily]

Antoine Bourdelle (1861-1929), a noted French sculptor, painter and educator, spent some 15 years assisting Auguste Rodin in his studio. He was chiefly influenced by Rodin's artistic views while he also explored his own style, finding inspiration in classical Greek and Romanesque art.

A dozen of Bourdelle's representative works, including sculptures, oil paintings, watercolors and drawings, as well as some of his old photographs, are now on show at the Tsinghua University Art Museum through April 30. The works are from the collection of the Bourdelle Museum in Paris.

The exhibition, titled Antiquity into Future, shows how Bourdelle introduced the strength, architectural grandeur and nobility of ancient Greek and Roman sculpture into 20th century art. He also infused his works with a modern visual taste by which he sought to create artworks that were “more profound, penetrating, refreshing and perfect” than in the past.

The sculptures on show include several of his masterpieces, such as Apollo, The Dying Centaur and Hercules the Archer.