Rodin and Napolean

It was a decent day so I decided to go for an outdoor museum experience and headed to the Rodin Museum.  The museum is located at Rodin's last address, the Hotel Biron which he saved from demolition by donating his sculptures.  The large pieces are out in the gardens and some of the smaller casts and marbles are inside the hotel.   It was only 6 euros to get in as it's the only non-state run museum in the city.  Most of the others are costing between 9 and 12 euros for the basic ticket.

Of course, there was the famous 'Thinker' with the Eiffel tower to his back.

Also, I had seen The Kiss outside of the Museum Orangeries and they had the marble here in the museum.  Apparently he made over 300 versions of The Kiss.  He would draw an image or sculpt it in marble or clay and then eventually make a bronze. 

It was worth the visit and a nice walk through the gardens.  I even saw a cute little bunny hoping around.

As the tomb of Napoleon is located next door, I wandered over to have a look.  Unfortunately, you can only visit by buying a ticket to the Army Museum which was as dreadful as I had feared.  Room after room of armor, swords and canons.  

 

 The tomb is as overdone and ornate as they come...bringing to mind pharaohs and roman emperors.

I really wouldn't advise wasting your time here unless you have some obsession with military history or medieval knight's clothing.

I did see a military funeral taking place in the main courtyard so the place is obviously still in use by the army.  I was rather horrified to see tourists filming the funeral and taking photos and I have to wonder how lacking in common compassion people have become that they could blithely take vacation snaps of some family's grief.