French sculptor, born 1840, died 1917. Most likely the most influential sculptor of his century, much like Picasso for painting in the 20th century. He was self-taught and was lucky to enjoy much of his success during his own lifetime. Relatively early on in his career, he was commissioned to make the bronze doors for a new Musee des Arts Decoratifs in Paris. The doors, named The Gates of Hell, were based on material he gleaned from reading Dante and Baudelaire. Towards the peak of his fame, he shared an exhibition with Claude Monet. His last public exhibition was a "Musee Rodin" opened in 1901.