The Burghers of Calais

About this place

The Burghers of Calais is a sculpture by Auguste Rodin in 12 original castings and numerous copies. It commemorates an event during the Hundred Years' War, when Calais, a French port on the English Channel, surrendered to the English after an 11-month siege. The city commissioned Rodin to create the sculpture in 1884 and the work was completed in 1889. Begin with the overall setting, then look more closely at the details described in the site history. This connects the monument with the city around it and helps distinguish its original purpose from the meanings it acquired in later generations.