Prior to the exhibition Portrait-making, Rodin and his models (2009), the Rodin museum wanted to restore two busts of Hanako and Clemenceau. Interestingly, these two sculptures contain pieces of modern modeling materials (MMMs) invented at the end of the nineteenth century as an alternative to clay or waxes. The poor state of conservation of the two portraits made any handling and exhibition impossible. Accordingly, the purpose of this article is twofold: to contribute to technical art history and conservation. Elemental and chemical analyses were done on samples from 12 sculptures (SEM-EDX, FTIR, GC-MS, GC-FID, XRD, synchrotron-based μXRF, μXANES, and μFTIR) aimed at identifying the composition of MMMs used by Rodin on plaster sculptures and establishing hypotheses about the origins of their degradation. This thorough study of their composition and degradation was necessary to implement an appropriate restoration plan. The development of conservation protocols adapted to such materials is rarely documented. Different tests were performed on mock-ups (pH, solubility, adhesion, consolidation, and cleaning). In particular, a protocol based on laser cleaning was developed and successfully applied to remove superficial dust and crusts so that the sculptures regained their original aspect.

Telamones and Caryatids by Rodin for Two Buildings in Brussels. Between 1872 and 1874, Rodin, working in Brussels, created a décor consisting of one caryatid and two telamones for each of two buildings located, respectively, at 33-35 and 37-39 boulevard Anspach. These two buildings no longer exist. However, the original stucco figures from no. 37-39, as well as two series of copies cast in plaster, the caryatid and the two telamones, are today in the collection of the Musée Rodin in Meudon. There are two other series of these figures in Brussels and in Japan. Restorations were carried out on three telamones in the collection of the Musée Rodin (one in stucco ; the other two, in plaster). A study of the technique used to make the original statues has confirmed that moulded stucco was used for these figures ; a technique rarely used for this type of monumental sculpture. The stucco was originally painted with a coloring that imitated stone ; it was then repainted several times before the statues were taken down in 1929. An examination of the two plaster telamones in the Musée Rodin showed that they had been cast, in 1929, in the moulds made in Brussels from the original stucco statues before they were taken down. All the plaster series were done from these moulds, and by the same atelier.

Entre 1907 et 1912, le sculpteur Auguste Rodin réalise de nombreux portraits de la comédienne japonaise Hanako, qui l’avait fasciné par son jeu de scène tragique. Le musée Rodin conserve une cinquantaine d’épreuves en plâtre et terre cuite issues de cette recherche. Une étude technique menée en 2018 et 2019 a permis de retracer la généalogie de ces portraits, grâce à l’analyse minutieuse et rigoureuse de toutes les traces de mise en œuvre. Révélant le processus de création, qui débute par une observation morphologique du modèle visant à explorer en différentes voies l’expression du visage, l’étude offre par ailleurs de précieux renseignements sur l’usage des différentes techniques de moulages dans l’atelier de Rodin.