The King Baudouin Foundation has launched a tailor-made philanthropic formula for the Fine Arts Museum of Ghent (MSK Gent), to enable Rodin’s work 'L’Âge d’airain' to remain on show at the museum. Together with the Foundation, the Fine Arts Museum has launched a fundraising campaign to raise the finance needed to purchase this masterpiece.
 

L’Âge d’airain

The sculpture 'L’Âge d’airain' (The Bronze Age) is considered to be the first major work created by French artist Auguste Rodin. It was made while Rodin was living in Brussels. The model for this male nude was a 22-year-old soldier from Ghent, Auguste Neyt. There are several examples of the work in bronze, but Rodin personally offered this one to Auguste Neyt in 1908. The grandfather of the statue’s current owner purchased the work from Henri Neyt, the model’s son. Since then, the sculpture has been part of a collection in the Ghent region. With the exception of one other work, no other example in bronze is part of any pubic collection in Europe. Given the history of this emblematic work of art and its connection to Ghent, the King Baudouin Foundation decided to play the role of facilitator so as to enable the Fine Arts Museum of Ghent to acquire the sculpture.

You too can help us!

Perhaps you would like to support this project and enable the Fine Arts Museum of Ghent to acquire this important work so that it can continue to exhibit it? If so, please make a donation via this link. Donations of 40 euros or more are tax deductible.