Bust of Victor Hugo 1883, date of cast unknown Bronze 17 x 10 ¼  x  10 ¾  in. Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Collection Like many of the period, Rodin idolized Victor Hugo and was eager to sculpt his portrait. Hugo loathed the idea of posing formally for hours, but Rodin persisted until he was granted access to Hugo's household. Rodin studied Hugo attentively from a distance and then ran to the balcony where he had set up his clay. He recalled, "I would go look at him, and then, with my head filled with the expression of an image that combined the properties of Pan, Hercules, and Jupiter, I would go back again and memorize each fold of skin."