Focus on Iris, Messenger of the Gods and explore the Background.
The sculpture was conceived in 1891 as part of Rodin's second (and ultimately unrealised) proposal to create a monument to Victor Hugo for a site outside the Panthéon in Paris.  Rodin received the commission in 1889, and he initially conceived a sculpture of Victor Hugo accompanied by three female figures representing Youth, Maturity and Old Age.  Over time, the project evolved, and the parts of the figures became separate sculptures, including Meditation, Tragic Muse, and Iris.  The figure that became Iris was intended to personify the "Spirit of the Nineteenth Century", or "Glory", hovering above the head of Hugo.
A simplified version of the Monument to Victor Hugo was later installed at the Palais Royale.
Palais Royale Tragic Muse Panthéon personify Meditation Victor Hugo