How many times was Auguste Rodin rejected by the École des Beaux-Arts?

Auguste Rodin was rejected by the École des Beaux-Arts three times.

The repeated refusals shaped the early story of his career. Rodin had studied drawing at the Petite École and wanted to continue at France’s most prestigious art academy, but admissions examiners did not accept him. He therefore developed outside the institution’s traditional training system.

Rodin’s rejection did not prevent him from becoming a major sculptor. He worked in decorative arts, assisted other artists, and gradually built an independent reputation. His later methods, including his emphasis on expressive modeling and multiple versions of related forms, were not limited by academic conventions.

This fact is sometimes simplified into the claim that Rodin had no formal training. That is inaccurate: he did receive instruction at the Petite École and gained practical experience in studios. What he lacked was admission to the École des Beaux-Arts.