A rare Auguste Rodin sculpture, “Le Désespoir” (ca. 1892–93), long forgotten and sitting unnoticed on a piano in a French home, has fetched a staggering $1.2 million at auction, per news.artnet.com. The white marble piece, standing just under a foot high, was rediscovered by auctioneer Aymeric Rouillac in late 2024, its value unknown to the family who owned it for generations.
The bidding for the allegorical sculpture, depicting a seated nude woman, was fierce and lasted over 20 minutes at Rouillac’s “Garden Party” sale held at the Château de Villandry. Collectors from China, Switzerland and the United States vied for the artwork, with a young US West Coast banker ultimately securing the piece for €1.1 million ($1.2 million).
This marks the 16th million-dollar sale for Rouillac and a new record for a rendition of this specific subject by Rodin. The sculpture, which last appeared at auction in Paris in 1906, surpassed its high estimate of €700,000 ($800,000). Rouillac dryly noted the irony, observing that “Despair inspires bankers,” given its past and present owners. This remarkable find further solidifies Rodin’s enduring legacy in the art world.
•Featured image: Auguste Rodin, Le Desepsoir (1892–93)/Guillaume Souvant / AFP
