What was Auguste Rodin’s full birth name?

Auguste Rodin’s full birth name was François-Auguste-René Rodin.

He was commonly known simply as Auguste Rodin, the name under which he became one of France’s most influential sculptors. The longer form reflects French naming conventions of the nineteenth century, while “Auguste” became his professional identity.

Rodin was born in Paris in 1840 and developed a style known for expressive surfaces, powerful modeling, and unfinished-looking passages. His best-known works include The Thinker, The Kiss, and The Burghers of Calais.

The name is sometimes confused with that of the sculptor François Rude, another important French artist. Rude created works such as Departure of the Volunteers of 1792, while Rodin belonged to a later generation and helped move sculpture toward modernism.