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    In the 14th century, during a protracted war, a group of men felt compelled to offer their lives in order to spare their beleaguered city. Over 500 years later, one of their compatriots commemorated their experience in a famed, though somewhat controversial, work of art that now stands in the city in question. Who were these men, and who was the artist?

    Question #58468. Asked by lanfranco. (Jul 22 05 3:59 PM)


    wajo

    		I think they were probably the six burghers of Calais who during the 100 Years War were forced to surrender the keys of the city to Edward III, thereby ending a siege by the English. Their lives were saved by the intervention of Edward's wife who took pity on them in their humiliation. This event is commemorated in a statue 'Six Burghers' by Rodin.

    Jul 22 05, 4:35 PM
    lanfranco

    		Very nice, wajo, but "surrendering keys" was not the sole requirement. Could you provide a site --with an illustration, perhaps?

    Jul 22 05, 4:40 PM
    JaneofGaunt

    		Barefoot, with nooses around their necks, they had to beg for mercy.

    http://www.seaview.co.uk/le-shopper/sixburghers.html

    Jul 22 05, 7:59 PM
    wajo

    		They were also stripped of their usual fine clothing and just wore shirts and undergarments.

    The controversy seems to have been around Rodin's naturalistic portrayal of them in a state of self-doubt and anguish, rather than in a more traditional heroic composition with their leader at the fore. Rodin also objected to the placement of the statue on a pedestal rather than being directly placed on the pavement on the same level as the viewer.

    http://rodin-web.org/works/1884_burghers.htm

    http://www.metmuseum.org/explore/publications/pdfs/burghers/divided/storyBurghers.pdf



    Jul 22 05, 9:27 PM
    lanfranco

    		Excellent, wajo, and Jane gets a yay, too.

    Jul 23 05, 7:40 AM

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