The Mature Age, also named The Destiny, The Way of Life or The Fate (1894-1900) is one of major sculptures by Camille Claudel

Camille Claudel

Camille Claudel was a French sculptor and graphic artist. She was the elder sister of the poet and diplomat Paul Claudel.- Early years :...

. There is a version made in plaster and another one in bronze, respectively on exhibit at the Musée d'Orsay

Musée d'Orsay

The Musée d'Orsay is a museum in Paris, France, on the left bank of the Seine. It is housed in the former Gare d'Orsay, an impressive Beaux-Arts railway station built between 1898 and 1900. The museum holds mainly French art dating from 1848 to 1915, including paintings, sculptures, furniture,...

 and at the Musée Rodin

Musée Rodin

The Musée Rodin in Paris, France, is a museum that was opened in 1919 in the Hôtel Biron and surrounding grounds. It displays works by the French sculptor Auguste Rodin....

.

After the rupture between Camille Claudel and Auguste Rodin

Auguste Rodin

François-Auguste-René Rodin , known as Auguste Rodin , was a French sculptor. Although Rodin is generally considered the progenitor of modern sculpture, he did not set out to rebel against the past...

 who refused to marry her, Rodin tried to help her through another person and obtained from the Director of Fine Arts an order from the State : The Mature Age was commissioned in 1895 and exhibited in plaster in 1899 at the Salon de la Société nationale des beaux-arts. It was cast in bronze in 1902 by Thiébaut and exhibited at the Musée d'Orsay. A second bronze was cast by Carvelhania after 1913 and was exhibited at the Musée Rodin.

This work reflects Claudel's abandonment by Rodin : She implores him kneeling while he prefers coming back to Rose, his wife. Claudel explained this symbolism in some letters to her brother Paul Claudel

Paul Claudel

Paul Claudel was a French poet, dramatist and diplomat, and the younger brother of the sculptor Camille Claudel. He was most famous for his verse dramas, which often convey his devout Catholicism.-Life:...

, then consul

Consul

Consul was the highest elected office of the Roman Republic and an appointive office under the Empire. The title was also used in other city states and also revived in modern states, notably in the First French Republic...

in New York. This work is thus deemed as autobiographical.