« The statuette on the piano is a false Rodin »: it was original, sold for almost a million dollars

They thought that that marble statuette Just less than 30 centimeters high and depicting a female figure sitting on a rock, with one leg collected against the chest and a foot held in the hands, if nothing else than a fake Rodin. A copy of little value placed for this next to some family photos and other common furnishings of the house, above a piano. It was instead An original work by the famous French sculptor (1840-1917), author for example of the much greater « the thinker ». To hypothesize it first had been last year Aymeric Rouillacowner of a rod of the same name based in Tours, during a visit to an art collector of central France. Result of the help: the assignment of the piece to the best bidder Sunday 8 June At the castle of Villandry, in the Loire valley.

Challenge to the last relaunch

The wealthy buyer of the statuette, a young banker from the American West Coast (whose exact identity was not made known), were served well 860 thousand euros – Almost one million dollars, at the current change – to get the better of a fierce competition. So easy to imagine the satisfaction not only of Rouillac, but also and above all of the previous owner. On the other hand, to certify the authenticity of the article had been the Comité Rodinreference body regarding the creations of the Parisian artist, to whom Rouillac himself had turned in March. More specifically, it emerged to be none other than a marble version of « Despair« (« The désespoir», In the French original), bronze sculpture created around 1890 as a part of » La Porta dell’Allor « , a monumental project then remained unfinished.

« I immediately understood that it was original »

It was actually from 1906 That the work did not publicly appear on the market, or since she was sold – always at auction – is presumed to a merchant named Eugène Finschhof for 4,100 francs. It was not for Rouillac, it would therefore have remained in the oblivion for who knows how much more time. «The back, the muscles, are perfect. All the vertebrae of the spine can be heard – explained the expert on Tuesday to Cnn -. I immediately understood that it was original, I absolutely had no doubts». On the other hand – reported the co -founder of Comité Rodin Jérôme Le Blay -, the specimen in question dates back to «One of the best periods of Rodin’s career»: The one between 1892 and 1893something magical». A gift from the past as precious as it is unexpected. Despite someone he had it under his eyes every day.