Rodin's The Kiss: when art comes to the domaine Faiveley !

Since Tuesday, April 12, 2022, the domaine Faiveley * has the honor of welcoming to Nuits-Saint-Georges, in the heart of its historic winery, a prestigious guest: Auguste Rodin's The Kiss.

The project took shape during 2021, following a meeting between the family Faiveley and the Rodin Museum. “Our family was incredibly fortunate to meet Auguste Rodin at a very young age thanks to Maurice Fenaille, the uncle of our great-grandmother Marthe. It is in memory of these special ties forged between our family and Auguste Rodin, and in homage to this artist whose works are timeless, that we wanted to make this acquisition,” explains Erwan. Faiveley .

Maurice Fenaille was indeed a pioneer in the petroleum industry, whose name belongs primarily to the history of art as a great enthusiast, collector, and patron. Thus, in 1885, he met Auguste Rodin, became his patron, and commissioned several works from him. The Kiss was placed in the center of the patio of the vat room of the domaine and completes the full renovation of the vat room undertaken between 2016 and 2018. “We are delighted and honored by the trust placed in us by the Rodin Museum, particularly its director, Ms. Amélie Simier, in entrusting us with this major work by Auguste Rodin.” Erwan Faiveley .

*Founded in 1825 and located in Nuits-Saint-Georges in the heart of Burgundy's wine country, the Domaine Faiveley owns more than 120 hectares of vines on exceptional terroirs, including 12 Grand Cru and 25 Premier Cru vineyards. Côte de Nuits Coast of Beaune and Coast chalonnaise .

Event

During the Month of Climates (June 3 to July 17, 2022), the family Faiveley offers an exclusive unveiling of Auguste Rodin's The Kiss. ​​On this occasion, the patio of the historic winery of domaine Faiveley Located in the heart of Nuits-Saint-Georges (38 rue du Tribourg), the gallery will be open to the public, giving visitors the opportunity to admire this original artwork. Opening hours (Tuesday to Saturday): 10:00-12:30 / 13:30-18:00

The work

In 1898, the sculptor Auguste Rodin exhibited The Kiss, an imposing statue carved from marble, for the first time at the Société nationale des beaux-arts. blanc and brilliant, commissioned by the State ten years earlier. The embracing couple in The Kiss was originally intended to be created on a smaller scale to adorn a monumental door (The Gates of Hell) commissioned by the French government for the Museum of Decorative Arts, a project that was never realized. Its majestic lovers are idealized. The embracing couple in The Kiss seems to be enacting a tender scene of seduction. They are stripped of all accessories: no clothing to situate them in time and space. Simply two intertwined bodies: the athletic one of the handsome youth and the graceful one of the young woman. The figures are inspired by Dante's lovers, Paolo and Francesca, eternally damned. The Kiss, the large-scale model, is exhibited at domaine Faiveley is an original bronze edition (IV/IV) measuring 181 cm high, 112 cm wide, 117 cm long.

Christophe TUPINIER

Publishing Director