Bronze recreation of “The Kiss” by Auguste Rodin Material: resin with a cold-pained bronze finish Dimensions: 16x8x7cm (783g) Condition: as new This sculpture is based on a love story reported by Dante in his Divine Comedy and sculptured by Rodin for The Gates of Hell. Francesca's father arranged for her to be married to Gianciotto in a political union to end a war between Malatesta and Rimini. Gianciotto's younger brother, Paolo, was sent to advise Francesca. Upon meeting, they fell in love. Tricked into marriage with Gianciotto, Francesca pursued Paolo until one day they were found in her room. Gianciotto thrust a rapier towards Paolo but struck both Francesca in her bosom and Paolo. The lovers both were buried together in a tomb. In 1880 the French sculptor Auguste Rodin received the commission for the Gates of Hell, a decorative door full of statues for the future Museum of Decorative Arts (Musee des Beaux Arts), to be decorated with low reliefs inspired by The Divine Comedy of Dante. Although the Gates of Hell was never completed, some of Rodin's most famous and memorable pieces were originally done for it including The Thinker, Adam, Eve, and The Kiss.