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Rediscovered Rodin Marble Le Désespoir Sells for €860,000 at Auction

Authenticated by the Comité Rodin after its rediscovery late last year, the work has moved into a private West Coast collection following its sale.

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A photograph showing the detail on one of the feet in the sculpture.
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The small Rodin sculpture was long considered to be just a copy

Overview

  • The 28.5-centimeter marble figure was sculpted in 1892–93 as part of Rodin’s Gates of Hell ensemble and disappeared after a 1906 auction.
  • Its rediscovery in late 2024 spurred a provenance investigation by Rouillac auction house that traced the sculpture’s history over more than a century.
  • In March 2025 the Comité Rodin confirmed the piece’s authenticity based on detailed stylistic analysis and archival research.
  • Bidding opened at €500,000 on June 8 at Château de Villandry and concluded at €860,000 amid strong international interest.
  • A young U.S. West Coast banker secured the sculpture, marking one of the rare additions of a Rodin marble to a private collection.