The Rodin Museum was Jules Mastbaum’s gift to the city of Philadelphia. Mastbaum, a movie theater magnate, began collecting Rodin’s works in 1923 with the intention of founding a museum to fulfill the enrichment of lives of his fellow citizens. Three years after, he assembled the largest collection of Rodin’s works outside Paris.

Auguste Rodin was known for bringing monumental public sculpture into the modern era. He very well knew the academic traditions and he was able to idealize the subjects of classical and Renaissance sculpture. His works had the distinction of being faithful to nature and expressive when it comes to movements and emotions.

The collection includes bronze castings, drawings, prints, letters, books, plaster studies, and many more. The Mastbaum then commissioned French architects Paul Cret and Jacques Gréber to come up with the design for the Museum building and gardens. It was just unfortunate that Mastbaum passed away before his dream was finally completed. His widow gave honor to his commitment to the city.

The Museum was inaugurated on November 29, 1929.