Dome

Overall view from the left; Meditation originated in a figure on the tympanum of The Gates of Hell, inspired by Michelangelo. She was then reworked into the Monument to Victor Hugo, before being enlarged under the name The Inner Voice. She represented one of the muses who inspired the poet. In order to include her in the monument, Rodin had to remove her arms and amputate part of her legs. Outside of this context, the figure was exhibited in the same state in Dresden and Stockholm in 1897, but because of its unfinished appearance, the public found it hard to understand. Source: Musée Rodin [website]; http://www.musee-rodin.fr/en/ (accessed 5/13/2014)