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The Cathedral by Auguste Rodin

The Cathedral is a sculpture by the French artist Auguste Rodin, conceived in 1908. It shows two right hands belonging to two different figures, placed so they seem about to intertwine. The work measures 62.3 cm high, 28.8 cm wide, and 31 cm deep. It was made in stone, and later cast in bronze. At first, it was titled The Arch of the Alliance, referring to the harmony of communication suggested by the two hands. It later received the title The Cathedral after the publication of Rodin’s 1914 book The Cathedrals of France, which reflected his fascination with French cathedrals and the harmony he saw between architecture and sculpture.

The Cathedral sculpture showing two dark metal hands rising upright with fingertips nearly touching.
The Cathedral features two upright hands forming an arch-like shape.
May 2013 © · CC BY-SA 3.0
The Cathedral bronze sculpture with two hands reaching upward and nearly touching
The Cathedral by Auguste Rodin, showing the bronze hands reaching toward each other on a glass pedestal.
May 2013 © · CC BY-SA 3.0
The Cathedral sculpture by Rodin, showing two clasped hands rising from a rectangular base in a museum setting.
The Cathedral by Rodin, with two interlocked hands forming a vertical sculpture in the museum.
June 2010 © · CC BY 2.0
The Cathedral sculpture by Rodin, showing two raised hands forming an arch in a gallery.
The Cathedral by Rodin, with two hands raised to form an arch in the gallery.
June 2010 © · CC BY 2.0
Museum information plaque for Auguste Rodin’s La Cathédrale, with a blurry pink reflection at the right edge.
A museum plaque identifies Auguste Rodin’s La Cathédrale, with a faint reflection visible beside it.
June 2010 © · CC BY 2.0

Identification

TitleThe Cathedral
Original titleLa Cathédrale
Former titleL'Arche d'Alliance (The Arch of the Covenant)
TypeSculpture

Creator

ArtistAuguste Rodin
Artist nationalityFrench

Historical context

Date of conception1908
Historical contextCreated during a period of ideological and material recovery of the medieval era, including the restoration of Gothic cathedrals and other medieval buildings

Discovery and provenance

Related publicationLes Cathédrales de France (1914), a book of notes Rodin made about French cathedrals during his travels
Title change reasonThe title was likely adopted after the publication of Les Cathédrales de France
Rodin's travels in FranceHe traveled throughout France for 40 years

Physical characteristics

Dimensions64 × 29.5 × 31.8 cm

Materials

MaterialStone
Later versionsBronze editions were cast from the same work

Technique

TechniqueCarved roughly, with visible tool marks

Appearance

SubjectTwo right hands, belonging to two different people, positioned so they do not touch
CompositionThe hands are slightly separated, creating a space between them

Iconography and meaning

MeaningThe two hands symbolize cathedrals and allude to the harmony of communication
ReferenceThe gap between the hands recalls the arches of Gothic architecture
Commemorative meaningIt honors part of the history and landscape of France

Other

ClassificationSymbolic work
AssessmentOne of Rodin's last works
SeriesPart of Rodin's series of hand sculptures
Series materialMarble
Series dateAfter 1900
Related works in seriesThe Secret; The Hand of God; The Hand of the Devil; The Hands of the Lovers; Hand Emerging from the Tomb
Rodin's view of cathedralsHe felt fascination and admiration for them
Architectural ideas mentioned by RodinUse of reason, submission to physical laws, play of light and shadow, and harmony achieved through the combination of geometric planes
Architecture-sculpture linkRodin considered harmony one of the characteristics linking architecture and sculpture
Artist's interestThe work reflects Rodin's taste and passion for hands as a subject