In a dramatic reappearance, the Rodin Le Désespoir sculpture sale has reignited interest in the master. Uncover its full history.

BY KAZEEM ADELEKE, ARTCENTRON

A Forgotten Masterpiece Emerges from the Shadows of Time

A long-lost sculpture by Auguste Rodin, a highly influential sculptor of the modern era, has been rediscovered. For decades, the sculpture sat unassumingly atop a piano in a private French home. Its owners did not recognize its historic and artistic value until recently. The marble artwork, titled Le Désespoir (Despair), has since captivated the international art world. Its discovery and subsequent sale for €1.1 million ($1.2 million) at auction have also reignited discussions surrounding Rodin’s genius.

The serendipitous rediscovery occurred when Aymeric Rouillac, a seasoned French auctioneer and proprietor of the auction house Maison Rouillac, visited a collector in Berry, central France. He was there to evaluate an unrelated item. However, Rouillac noticed a modest sculpture resting atop the family’s piano during his inspection. Upon closer examination, he realized he was looking at a potentially authentic Rodin sculpture. It had remained untouched and undocumented for over 100 years.

The Artistic Context: The Gates of Hell and Rodin’s Process

To fully appreciate the significance of Le Désespoir, one must understand its origin within Rodin’s monumental work, The Gates of Hell. Commissioned in 1880 for a planned Musée des Arts Décoratifs, this colossal bronze portal became a lifelong project for Rodin. He continuously added, removed, and refined over 200 figures, many of which, like The Thinker and The Kiss, later achieved independent status.

Le Désespoir was conceived as a smaller, yet profoundly expressive, figure for the upper-left panel of The Gates. Rodin’s working method involved modeling figures in clay and then casting them in plaster. These plaster models served as blueprints for subsequent versions in bronze or, in rarer cases, marble. The newly rediscovered marble Le Désespoir exemplifies Rodin’s meticulous process. It highlights his ability to imbue even small-scale works with immense psychological depth, often exploring themes of human suffering and inner turmoil.

Rodin’s deliberate “non finito” technique is evident in the rough, almost unfinished treatment of certain areas of the marble. This created a powerful dialogue between the smooth, polished flesh and the raw stone. This technique, inspired by Michelangelo, emphasized the material’s inherent qualities and conveyed a sense of the figure emerging from the stone, reflecting life itself. The purity of the white Carrara marble, with its subtle veining, further enhances the sculpture’s delicate rendering and emotional impact.

The Role of Authentication: The Comité Rodin

The re-authentication of Le Désespoir was a crucial step in its rediscovery. The Comité Rodin, the authoritative body for authenticating the artist’s work, played an important role. When Aymeric Rouillac presented the sculpture for assessment, Jérôme Le Blay, co-founder of the Comité Rodin, immediately recognized its authenticity. He noted its exceptional craftsmanship, dating it to a period when Rodin dedicated significant time to a smaller number of sculptures before his immense fame led to a more prolific output, often involving greater assistant involvement in the initial carving stages.

The Comité Rodin’s rigorous authentication process involves extensive archival research, stylistic analysis, and material examination. This process provides invaluable credibility to such rediscoveries. Their verification ensures that these long-lost treasures re-enter the art market with undeniable legitimacy, bolstering collector confidence and, consequently, market value.

Rouillac consigned the work to his prestigious “Garden Party” auction. The auction took place at the Château de Villandry, a lavish castle in France’s Loire Valley. This setting was fitting for such a rare and monumental rediscovery. Bidding lasted an intense 20 minutes, with interest from collectors in China, Switzerland, and the United States.

Ultimately, a young West Coast U.S. banker outbid the competition. He secured the sculpture for €1.1 million, well above its high estimate of €700,000. The final sale set a new auction record for a version of this subject by Rodin. This sale cemented the piece’s place in art market history.

Rodin Le Désespoir Sculpture: Symbolic Gravity

Rodin carved Le Désespoir, a profoundly moving allegorical sculpture, between 1892 and 1893. It depicts a nude woman in a complex seated pose. The figure’s right leg is close to her torso, while her left leg stretches outward. Her hands gently grasp her extended foot. This positioning conveys intense emotional strain, a characteristic hallmark of Rodin’s exploration of human psychology through physical form.

Crafted from white marble, the sculpture stands just under one foot tall. It exemplifies the intimate scale and intensity Rodin reserved for his more introspective works. Its delicate rendering and tortured posture articulate Rodin’s mastery. He expressed internal turmoil through bodily tension.

A Journey Through Provenance

The artwork’s documented history begins with its sale to Alexandre Blanc, a prominent French financier. It later appeared at a Parisian auction in 1906, fetching 4,100 francs. Afterward, it entered the hands of Eugène Finschhof, a Paris art dealer, and subsequently Paul Chevallier, an influential French collector. The general presumption was that the sculpture remained with the same family line until its reappearance in 2024.

The irony of its latest buyer—another financier—was not lost on Rouillac. He wryly remarked, “Despair inspires bankers” in the press release following the auction.

Comparable Works and Previous Sales

While not the only version of Le Désespoir in existence, this particular example is especially significant. Its untouched provenance and pristine condition contribute to its importance. A similar sculpture sold at Sotheby’s New York in 1990 for $797,500, shattering its $220,000 high estimate. That price was the standing record for a sculpture of this subject until the recent sale in France.

Rodin Le Désespoir Sculpture: Other renditions are in major institutions:

• The Kunsthaus Zurich, from the Emil Bührle Collection
• The Philadelphia Museum of Art
• A larger limestone version is in the Cantor Arts Center at Stanford University

The Broader Impact: Rodin’s Market and Legacy

The successful auction of Le Désespoir is a testament to Rodin’s enduring appeal and the robustness of his market. His works consistently command high prices, reflecting not only their aesthetic merit but also their profound contribution to modern sculpture. The scarcity of Rodin’s marble sculptures in private hands, as most are held in major museum collections, adds to the exceptional nature of this particular rediscovery.

This event is likely to fuel further interest in Rodin’s oeuvre, particularly his intimate marble works. It underscores a significant art historical and market-shifting discovery in private collections. Auction houses employ sophisticated marketing strategies to maximize the impact of such finds. These include extensive provenance research, expert authentication, carefully curated exhibitions, and targeted outreach to a global network of collectors. The narrative of a forgotten masterpiece, combined with intense competitive bidding, amplifies the excitement and historical significance of the sale.

Rodin’s Global Renaissance at Musée Rodin Shanghai

The Musée Rodin in Paris is set to open its first international branch in Shanghai this coming September. This exhibition coincides with the resurgence of interest in Rodin’s oeuvre. This international expansion, housed in the former French Pavilion of the 2010 Shanghai World Expo, is a strategic move that acknowledges China’s burgeoning art market and its growing appetite for Western art. The inaugural exhibition, Rodin: A Hinge Figure Towards Modernity, will feature over 100 authentic artworks from the Paris collection, including sculptures, paintings, and even pieces from Rodin’s collection that have never been publicly displayed before, such as Ming and Qing dynasty porcelains.

This “museum diplomacy” initiative celebrates the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between France and China. It signifies a deepening cultural exchange for scholarship and public engagement with Rodin’s work in Asia. The Shanghai museum will showcase his iconic pieces and explore the lesser-known aspects of his artistic practice. The show will also earmark his connections to various cultures.

A Modern-Day Cultural Reawakening

The rediscovery and sale of Le Désespoir speak to the enduring importance of Auguste Rodin. They also highlight the cultural richness that remains hidden in private collections worldwide. This event is a powerful reminder that art history is still unraveling, even in the most unlikely corners of domestic life.

The art world is now buzzing over this rediscovered gem. Experts anticipate a renewed interest in smaller-scale Rodin works, particularly those from his less-explored marble repertoire. As collectors and institutions vie for what remains of Rodin’s legacy in private hands, the market is set for further record-breaking moments.