How does this artwork elucidate its Composition?
The City of Calais had attempted to erect a statue of Eustache de Saint Pierre, eldest of the burghers, since 1845.  Two prior artists were prevented from creating the sculpture: David d'Angers by his death, and Auguste Clésinger by the Franco-Prussian War. In 1884 the municipal corporation of the city invited several artists, Rodin amongst them, to submit proposals for the project.Rodin's design, which included all six figures rather than just de Saint Pierre, was controversial. The public felt that it lacked "overtly heroic antique references" which were considered integral to public sculpture. It was not a pyramidal arrangement and contained no allegorical figures.  It was intended to be placed at ground level, rather than on a pedestal.  The burghers were not presented in a positive image of glory; instead, they display "pain, anguish and fatalism".  To Rodin, this was nevertheless heroic, the heroism of self-sacrifice.In 1895 the monument was installed in Calais on a large pedestal in front of Parc Richelieu, a public park, contrary to the sculptor's wishes, who wanted contemporary townsfolk to "almost bump into" the figures and feel solidarity with them.  Only later was his vision realised, when the sculpture was moved in front of the newly completed town hall of Calais, where it now rests on a much lower base.
Franco-Prussian War Parc Richelieu Eustache de Saint Pierre Calais David d'Angers Auguste Clésinger burghers