When conceived by Rodin in 1880 in its original size of approximately 70
centimeters (28 inches) "The Thinker" was called "The Poet" and was
designed to be the crowning element of "The Gates of Hell", another major
work by the French sculptor.
$100,000 Rodin statue, stolen 24 years ago, recovered
The sculpture initially represented Dante, the medieval Italian poet and author
of the "Divine Comedy", leaning forward to observe the circles of Hell, while
meditating on his work.
While remaining in place on the monumental "Gates of Hell", "The Thinker"
was exhibited individually in 1888 and thus became an independent work.
The statue was first enlarged in 1904, and monumental man-sized versions of the
statue such as the one on display in the Paris Rodin Museum proved even more
popular, with its the image of a man lost in thought but whose powerful body
suggests a great capacity for action.
The copy sold this Thursday by Christie's was the size of the original model.
https://edition.cnn.com/style/article/rodin-thinker-auction-paris-
reuters/index.html
"The Thinker" Neuguss Versteigerung 11 Mio