He Practiced the Hands and Faces First: The Burghers of Calais Study Case

Inside this glass case is a collection of studies Rodin made in preparation for The Burghers of Calais. He worked out the hands and heads of the figures separately from their bodies, and for mere studies, their level of finish is remarkably high.

Looking at the facial studies, you can see Rodin trying to capture the range of emotions a person facing execution might feel, shaped by each figure's age and temperament. The hand studies, too, show various attempts to convey anxiety, or something closer to quietly accepting one's own sacrifice. The finished Burghers of Calais can be found in greater detail out in the museum's garden.