The Thinker
After Auguste Rodin – Rockefeller Bronze
The Thinker
After Auguste Rodin (1840–1917)
Nelson Rockefeller Collection
Renaissance Bronze Company, New York
Dated 1979
Edition 15 of 150
Bronze
28 inches high
Approx. 120 lbs.
An impressive bronze after Auguste Rodin's celebrated The Thinker, produced by Renaissance Bronze Company of New York as part of the Nelson Rockefeller Collection edition. Individually numbered 15 from an edition of 150, this substantial sculpture captures the extraordinary tension between physical strength and intellectual contemplation that has made Rodin's original composition one of the most recognizable images in the history of sculpture.
Originally conceived around 1880 as part of Rodin's monumental Gates of Hell, The Thinker was initially associated with Dante contemplating the world of his Divine Comedy. Later presented as an independent sculpture, the figure became an enduring expression of intellect, introspection, and the human condition.
The figure's muscular anatomy is rendered with sensitivity and precision. From the powerful shoulders and compressed torso to the expressive hands and deeply contemplative pose, the sculpture conveys a remarkable interplay of physical energy and psychological depth. Its richly nuanced dark patina emphasizes the modeling of the bronze, revealing a dynamic relationship between light, shadow, mass, and movement.
Standing 28 inches high and weighing approximately 120 pounds, The Thinker has a commanding sculptural presence. Its substantial proportions and expressive form make it particularly suited to a distinguished library, private study, entrance hall, or thoughtfully composed residential interior. Its combination of classical figuration and expressive character also makes it a compelling focal point within modern and contemporary interiors.
Edition Marks & Archival Documentation
This example of The Thinker is identified with the Nelson Rockefeller Collection edition produced by Renaissance Bronze Company of New York in 1979 and is individually numbered 15/150.
The sculpture bears an identifying stamp dated 1979 and the edition number 15/150, documented in the accompanying close-up photograph. These physical markings provide identifying information specific to Maison Palm Beach's bronze and help distinguish this example from other casts and editions of Rodin's celebrated composition.
The accompanying archival documentation includes photographs of the front and back covers of a catalog issued by The Nelson Rockefeller Collection, Inc. The catalog provides historical context for the collection's fine art reproduction program.
Presented alongside the sculpture's identifying marks, this reference material offers collectors additional context for understanding the work's edition and production history. The catalog covers provide historical reference material but do not, on their own, authenticate this particular numbered bronze or establish its individual ownership history.
The Rockefeller Collection designation identifies the edition with which this sculpture is associated and should be distinguished from provenance establishing personal ownership of this particular example by Nelson A. Rockefeller.
This sculpture is a later bronze after Rodin's original model, rather than a cast produced during the artist's lifetime.
Marks & Inscriptions
Stamped identifying mark dated 1979 and edition number 15/150, as illustrated in the accompanying detail photograph.
Literature & Archival Reference
The Nelson Rockefeller Collection, Inc., catalog of fine art reproductions. Front and back covers illustrated in the accompanying documentation photographs.
Price $60,000
Related Artwork
The Age of Bronze, after Auguste Rodin. Renaissance Bronze Company, 1979. Nelson Rockefeller Collection edition, numbered 36/150. Also available through Maison Palm Beach.
Discover Maison Palm Beach's collection of classical, Grand Tour, and modern bronze sculpture, including works after Auguste Rodin and other celebrated sculptors.
Available through Maison Palm Beach
The Thinker is available through Maison Palm Beach in Palm Beach, Florida. Private viewings, additional photographs, documentation, and condition information are available upon request.
Maison Palm Beach works with collectors, interior designers, and architects on artwork selection, scale, placement, trade consideration, and appropriate delivery and installation arrangements. The sculpture's substantial proportions make it a distinctive statement piece for residential, private collection, and hospitality settings.
Related Journal: Rockefeller’s Rodin: Living with Genius
The Thinker
The Thinker, identifying marks
Close-up of the foundry stamp and edition number 15/150 on The Thinker, a 1979 bronze after Auguste Rodin, from the Nelson Rockefeller Collection edition, offered by Maison Palm Beach.
The Thinker
