In France, a sculpture of Auguste Rodin, which disappeared more than 120 years ago, was sold.
The statue was kept for a long time by a family, who considered it a copy, writes CNN.
The sculpture “Le Désespoir” (“Despair”) The artist carved it from marble in 1892-1893. She depicts a woman sitting on a stone and presses a foot on her chest. The size of the figure is 28.5 × 15 × 25 centimeters. Initially, it had to be part of the work of Rodin “the gates of hell”, which included over 200 figures and groups.
The latest statuette information dates back to 1906, when it was sold at auction. The owners did not know the value of the object and put it on the piano, along with the family photos.
Auctioner Emeric Ruyak, after the first evaluation, took the statuette to the “Rodin Committee”, which maintains a catalog of the artist’s works. There he reported that the work is authentic. Experts said the song is “exceptionally well made” and added that it was made in “one of the best moments in Rodin’s career.”
According to Jerome Le Blais, a co-founder of the Rodin Committee, most of the marble sculptures of Rodin belong to the Rodin Museum or other important museums worldwide. The works are rarely held in private collections.
“Le Désespoir” was sold for 984 thousand dollars (more than 77 million rubles). The work was bought by a young banker from the United States, whose name is not specified.
Auguste Rodin is a famous French sculptor. It is known for innovative techniques that convey complex human emotions. His best -known works are the “Thinking”, “Citizens of Calais”, “Kiss” and “Gates of Hell”.
