Art & Culture · 2
What was the original title Rodin gave to the sculpture that later became known as 'The Thinker'?
Answer
The Poet
Rodin first called the piece 'Le Poet' ('The Poet') because it depicted Dante composing his epic poem, before the work was retitled 'The Thinker' once it was exhibited independently.
💡 Did you know?
Rodin's 'The Thinker' was originally titled 'Le Poet' and meant to depict Dante Alighieri, not an abstract philosopher.
Other options people guess
- The Philosopher
- The Dreamer
- The Contemplator
Topics
- sculpture
- rodin
- titles
- controversy
Know your art & culture trivia?
Play a free Art & Culture quiz and see how many you get right — no signup needed to start.
More Art & Culture facts
Art & Culture
Auguste Rodin's sculpture 'The Thinker' was originally conceived to represent which real historical poet?
Rodin's 'The Thinker' was originally titled 'Le Poet' and meant to depict Dante Alighieri, not an abstract philosopher.
Art & Culture
Who created the statue 'The Thinker'?
'The Thinker' was originally designed as part of 'The Gates of Hell,' a monumental sculptural work based on Dante's Inferno.
Art & Culture
Maurizio Cattelan's stolen gold toilet 'America' had been installed at which historic English house, also the birthplace of Winston Churchill?
Maurizio Cattelan's 'America' (solid gold toilet) was stolen from Blenheim Palace in 2019 and has never been recovered.
Art & Culture
Instead of using true buon fresco on wet plaster, what technique did Leonardo apply to dry plaster when painting The Last Supper?
Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper began deteriorating within years because he rejected traditional fresco technique, experimenting instead with oil and tempera on dry plaster.
Art & Culture
In Noh theater, what physical technique lets a mask's fixed, neutral carving appear to show joy or sorrow?
Japanese Noh theater masks are carved to appear neutral, yet tilt slightly upward or downward to show joy or sorrow without facial movement.
Art & Culture
During the Sistine Chapel ceiling's 1980s–90s restoration, what did some art historians argue was mistakenly stripped away in the cleaning process?
Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel ceiling was nearly destroyed by restorers in the 1980s who removed layers art historians now believe the master intentionally applied.