A long-lost bronze sculpture by renowned French artist Camille Claudel has sold for a staggering €3.1 million at auction, per faroutmagazine.co.uk. The sculpture, L’Age Mûr (The Age of Maternity), created in 1907, was discovered under a cloth in a vacant Parisian apartment near the Eiffel Tower by auctioneer Matthieu Semont in September 2024. The apartment had been untouched for 15 years, making the find all the more extraordinary.
The piece, one of only six iterations, is an allegory of life inspired by Claudel’s tumultuous relationship with sculptor Auguste Rodin. It depicts a man being led away by an older woman while a younger woman, believed to represent Claudel herself, kneels and pleads for him to stay. The sculpture is thought to symbolize Claudel’s emotional breakdown following her separation from Rodin, with whom she had a passionate and tragic love affair.
Claudel, often overshadowed by Rodin, has emerged as a feminist icon in recent decades. Her life and work have been celebrated in films, including the 1988 French biopic and the 2013 adaptation starring Juliette Binoche.
The auction, held in Orléans, France, saw the sculpture sell for 50% above its pre-sale estimate, making it the second-highest price ever paid for a Claudel work. The record is held by Le Valse (The Waltz), which sold for £5.1 million in 2013.
The buyer’s identity remains undisclosed, leaving art enthusiasts speculating whether the piece will remain in private hands or find a home in a public institution.
- Featured image by Wikimedia
