Focus on this artwork and discuss the Gates of hell.
Around this time, France's Ministry of Public Education and Arts was planning to build a Museum of Decorative Arts in Paris on the remains of the Court of Accounts. Several artists were summoned to work on the project and Haquette introduced Rodin to his brother Georges Haquette, who in turn knew undersecretary Edmond Turquet. Turquet and Georges Haquette recommended Rodin for the project and commissioned him to produce The Gates of Hell. On the reverse is inscribed À mon ami Haquette (To my friend Haquette) - it is thought to have been cast as a thank-you gift for the Gates of Hell commission.
Edmond Turquet The Gates of Hell Georges Haquette