Caption: "The Burghers of Calais (1889) by Auguste Rodin (1840--1917). Taken April 2006 by User:AndyZ at Hirshhorn Sculpture Garden, near the National Mall in Washington, D.C.." (Slightly edited.)

According to legend (with maybe some history) The Burghers of Calais (the six burghers of Calais, France) were volunteers for subjection to the revenge that Edward III of England (1312--1377, reigned 1327--1377) wished to visit on city of Calais in 1347. His wife Philippa of Hainault (1314/1315--1369) pleaded successfully for their lives.

Rodin shocked his time, by not portraying classical heroism, but the heroism of fear, despair, anguish.

Credit/Permission: User:AndyZ, 2006 / Public domain .
Image link: Wikipedia: File:Burghers of Calais Hirshhorn.jpg.
Local file: local link: rodin_burghers_calais.html.
File: Art_r file: rodin_burghers_calais.html.