Auguste Rodin, 1840 Paris – 1917 Meudon Lot n° 738

MAIN DE DIEU Model circa 1900, but before 1905, posthumous casting of 1943 Bronze, cast and patinated chocolate brown. 15.5 x 16.7 x 15.2 cm. Signed "A. Rodin" on the outside, signed "A. Rodin" in relief on the inside, foundry stamp "A. Rudier fondeur Paris" on the outside. One of only two casts from the year, out of a total worldwide edition of five casts. Enclosed is a copy of an expert opinion from the Comité Auguste Rodin dated February 5, 2022. The appraisal indicates that the casting should be dated 1943, as in that year documents attest that 11 hours were spent on chasing and one hour on mounting the bronze, representing a reduction of a larger marble model held in the Musée Rodin. The bronze offered here is listed under the work catalogue number 2022-6532B. The "Hand of God" was originally modeled in plaster by Rodin in 1895 after the right hand of a citizen of Calais, Pierre de Wissant, which holds a couple embracing each other. In 1905, Rodin created a large marble sculpture based on this plaster model. From this first marble, he then had a half-size reduction made, the size of which corresponds to the dimensions of our bronze. "Hand of God", "Hand of the Creator", it can be interpreted above all symbolically as the hand of the sculptor while he is in full glory and recognized as the greatest artist of his time. From the publishing point of view, the edition of the model is small, because only five copies are known. Ours is special because not only was the casting made by Eugène Rudier, who was Rodin's and the museum's favorite caster, but it is also the specimen from his personal collection. After 1917, Eugène Rudier was both a caster and dealer of Rodin, buying bronzes at the Hôtel Drouot to resell. He was also a collector of bronze casts, often made by himself. Experience shows that they are always very beautiful casts. Provenance: Musée Rodin, Paris. Collection Eugène Rudier. Private collection, New Jersey, USA. (1330114) (13) Auguste Rodin, 1840 Paris - 1917 Meudon Main de dieu, Model ca. 1900 however before 1905, posthumous casting ca. 1943 Bronze casting, with chocolate brown patina. 15.5 x 16.7 x 15.2 cm. Signed on outside "A. Rodin", raised signature on inside "A. Rodin", outside with foundry mark "A. Rudier fondeur Paris". One of only two castings dating to 1943 with a total global limited edition of five. Accompanied by the expert's report by the Comité Rodin dated 5 February 2022, in copy. The expert's report makes it clear that the casting dates to 1943, as documents during this year testify that it took eleven hours to chisel and one hour to mount the bronze, representing a reduction of a larger marble model held at the Rodin Museum. The bronze on offer for sale in this lot is listed in the catalogue raisonné with no. 2022-6532B. The "Hand of God" was originally modelled in plaster by Rodin in 1895 after the right hand of a citizen of Calais, Pierre de Wissant, holding a entwining couple. In 1905 a large marble sculpture was created from this plaster mold. He then had a half-sized reduction made from this first marble, the size of which corresponds to the dimensions of our bronze. Hand of God or Hand of the Creator as it can be interpreted symbolically, represents above all the hand of the sculptor at the zenith of his career and recognized as the greatest artist of his time. This is an extremely small number of a limited edition with only five copies ever produced. The casting on offer for sale in this lot is exceptional because not only was the casting made by Eugène Rudier, Rodin's and the museum's preferred founder, but it is also a specimen from his personal collection. After 1917, Eugène Rudier was both a founder and art dealer of Rodin, buying bronzes from Hôtel Drouot for resale. He was also a collector of bronze castings, often created by himself. Experience shows that these are always very beautiful castings. Provenance: Musée Rodin, Paris. Eugène Rudier collection. Private collection, New-Jersey, USA.