Wonderful, a sculpture by Auguste Rodin has been discovered/identified. In New Jersey!

[CTyankee]

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/20/nyregion/a-rodin-hiding-in-plain-sight-in-a-new-jersey-suburb.html?ref=todayspaper

I was delighted to read this story in my morning NYT. Just in time to lift my spirits and make me smile!

Maybe a road trip to New Jersey is in order

[panader0]

1. Amazing story.

How did no one know it was a Rodin? Since he died in 1917, the bust
had to have been there for at least 100 years.

[CTyankee]

2. The story talks about that very issue.

Last edited Sat Oct 21, 2017, 01:31 PM - Edit history (1)

The art expert hired to go through the art seemed kinda in disbelief or afraid she'd make a mistake. But the provenance of the work puts it all together!

[Hortensis]

15. Terrific, thanks, CT. And what a nice item for her resume. :)

[Ninga]

3. I loved this story. Thanks for posting. One caveat though, while the bust is being lent

to the museum in Philly, I hope the foundation that owns it, will see fit to return it to the borough in NJ. The history of how that building came about, plus all,of the other art work, really deserves to,have the bust returned.

[CTyankee]

5. I'm of two minds here. I like the idea of a museum because it exposes the art

to a lot of people. However, OTOH the provenance is the borough in New Jersey. So I have sympathy for the people of New Jersey.

[Ninga]

7. Travelling through Europe and in particular Italy, I found the most amazing

art by noted artists in history, everywhere. I found to make a pilgrimage to a little village just to see a sculpture or piece of famous art, is an entirely different experience than in a museum. The local economy typically benefits from the infusion of visitor dollars.

[CTyankee]

10. I did the same. Wonderful experience. i went to see della Francesca's frescoes

in Italy, since they don't come to you, you go to them! So nice to see them in situ.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

20. Now that the word is out, can the borough protect the thing?

Or does it need the extra protection usually provided by large museums?

Sitting in a corner of some meeting room, it would be vulnerable to theft or vandalism.

But, yeah, if the borough can build some protection around it, and still make it visible, they own it, they should have it back.

[Cal Carpenter]

9. I appreciate your thought process

but given that it is valued at $4 to $12 million dollars, I would think it would pose a bit of a security risk that the small borough is not equipped to handle now that the secret has been exposed.

Such an interesting story though!

[CTyankee]

11. Yes, the worry is not that the piece could be stolen (too heavy) but some crazy

person might throw acid on it or attack it with a some instrument. Many famous museums require you to have any bag you have searched or left in a guarded room. Also coats.

[elleng]

4. Fabulous, yank!

[MLAA]

6. Wonderful story, thanks for sharing.

[Grammy23]

8. For a minute there I thought it was going to say

It was discovered in one of tRump’s properties. Maybe placed at the entrance to one of his golf courses....for members to hang their jackets while they play a few rounds.

[CTyankee]

12. Trump doesn't know his ass from a hole in the ground, altho if someone said

"Hey, you wanna own a Rodin?" he might attempt to buy it. He was claiming that he owned a famous painting by Renoir a while ago. Stupid asshole.

[Grammy23]

14. Exactly. That is kinda what I had in mind.

If it has lotsa gold gilding on it or someone tells him it is a genuine Renoir he will buy it. Even if the paint is still wet! LOL All of his taste is in his mouth and he’d easily be duped into buying a chalk copy of a Rodin and swear he has the original.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

21. Trump: "Rodin? Didn't Godzilla kick Rodin's ass?" nt

[Brother Buzz]

13. Kind of off topic, but I've always be amused by this photograph of another art discovery....

found in San Francisco's city hall back in 1953


"Tucked away amidst mops and pails on the fifth floor of the city hall, a bust in plaster by Thomas Ball (1819-1911) has been uncovered in the 'lost art treasure hunt.' It is probably Henry Clay executed about 1852."

[Jakes Progress]

16. What a lovely story. Thank you.

[NastyRiffraff]

17. I didn't even know Rodin did sculpture!

One of my favorite paintings is his Luncheon of the Boating Party. Thanks for the wonderful story!

[CTyankee]

18. Hope I didn't confuse you. "Luncheon" is by Renoir.

[NastyRiffraff]

19. Doh! No, you didn't confuse me

I am eternally confused!

[malaise]

22. Amazing indeed