A remarkable sculpture by the famous French artist Auguste Rodin, titled Le Desespoir (Despair), has recently made headlines after being sold for an impressive 860,000 euros (about $1.5 million) at auction. This particular piece had been lost to public knowledge for nearly 120 years, with many believing it to be merely a copy. The auction, conducted by Rouillac, marked the sculpture’s first sale since 1906, following its rediscovery late last year.
Le Desespoir features a female figure perched on a rock, holding one foot while drawing her knee to her chest. Rodin, renowned for creating multiple versions of this sculpture, originally modelled it in 1890 and carved it from marble between 1892 and 1893. The piece measures only 28.5 cm by 15 cm by 25 cm and was initially conceived as part of Rodin’s larger work, The Gates of Hell, a monumental ensemble comprising over 200 figures.
Prior to its auction, the sculpture had been in possession of a family from central France, who displayed it casually atop a piano alongside family photos, unaware of its true value. Auctioneer Aymeric Rouillac revealed that the family presumed it to be a fake, but his curiosity led him to investigate further. He was captivated by the sculpture’s intricate detailing, noting the refined musculature in the back and the lifelike representation of the vertebrae.
After examining the piece himself, Rouillac sought the expertise of the Comite Rodin, an organisation dedicated to maintaining a catalogue of Rodin’s works. Jerome Le Blay, co-founder of the committee, immediately recognised the sculpture’s authenticity and exceptional quality, expressing no doubt about its originality. He emphasised that the piece showcases Rodin’s craftsmanship during a period when he was focused on producing a limited number of exquisite sculptures. Typically, Rodin would work with assistants for initial stone shaping before personally executing the final details.
The auction culminated with a "passionate" bidding war, resulting in the winning bid placed by a young banker from the US West Coast. Le Blay noted the rarity of marble sculptures in private collections, as most reside in the Musee Rodin or major museums worldwide. The re-emergence of Le Desespoir holds a certain allure, attributed to its long absence from the marketplace.
This sale highlights not only the enduring legacy of Rodin and his artistic brilliance but also the remarkable journey of a long-lost masterpiece re-entering the public eye.