Photo's description:

Auguste Rodin, (1840-1917) 'Thomas Fortune Ryan' (1851-1928) 1909 Bronze Height 61 cm Inscribed 'A. Rodin' on the front right and stamped 'Alexis Rudier Fondeur/Paris' on the back of the right shoulder Museum no. A.48-1914 Given by the artist Thomas Ryan was an American millionaire, introduced to Rodin by the Duchesse de Choiseul. He thought Rodin was a genius and played a major role in promoting his work in the USA. In 1910 he financed for the purchase of ten of Rodin's works for the Metropolitan Museum, New York. Ryan sat for his portrait at the Hôtel Biron (now the Musée Rodin) in 1909, shortly after Rodin had rented studio space there. As neither spoke the other's language, the sittings were conducted in silence. Rodin's portrait captures the strength of Ryan's character as well as his physical power - he was broad-shouldered and over six feet tall. Versions in bronze, silver and marble were made for Ryan's own collection, all of them delivered by 1910. Wikipedia Loves Art at the Victoria and Albert Museum This photo of item # [1] at the Victoria and Albert Museum was contributed under the team name "UK_FGR" as part of the Wikipedia Loves Art project in February 2009. Victoria and Albert Museum The original photograph on Flickr was taken by -mrsraggle-—please add a comment to the original Flickr page whenever a use has been made on Wikipedia or another project. Project galleries on Flickr: this institution, this team