"Messenger of the Gods"

Bronze Sculpture by Auguste Rodin

"That freedom of expression was paramount in Rodin’s work can be seen in this piece, with its extraordinary leaping pose, revealed female genitalia, and obvious joy in movement. Probably modeled from the poses of a cancan dancer-model, Rodin’s bronze is a testament not only to his interest in big gesture, but also to the world of demimonde pleasures that surrounded him and his circle in the late Nineteenth Century.

The sculptor Maillol called this the finest work Rodin ever did. Part of its capacity to astonish comes from its upright position. Were Iris lying on her back, the viewer would be a voyeur; instead, the viewer is a participant in its dynamic and powerful motion.

This piece was very popular during Rodin’s life and immediately after his death. Many casts were commissioned and sold for among the highest prices paid for bronzes of this size."

The statue is life size.