Auguste Rodin

(possibly) Albéric Magnard, Paris
(possibly) By descent from the above to the Magnard heirs
Stephen Higgins, Paris
T. Rogers & Co., London (acquired from the above in 1969)
Sale: Sotheby's, London, July 2, 1969, lot 39
B. Gerald Cantor, Beverly Hills
Mr. & Mrs. Gerald Demain, Los Angeles (gifted from the above in 1974)
Sale: Christie's, New York, May 5, 2004, lot 205
Acquired at the above sale

Paris, Galerie Jean de Ruaz, Exhibition Rodin, 1946, no. 1

L'Art Français, Paris, February 14, 1888, illustrated
Léon Maillard, Auguste Rodin, statuaire: Études sur quelques artistes originaux, Paris, 1899, p. 146
Camille Mauclair, Auguste Rodin: The Man - His Ideas - His Works, London, 1905, p. 31
Frederick Lawton, The Life and Work of Auguste Rodin, London, 1906, p. 229
Eric Robert Dalrymple Maclagan, Catalogue of Sculpture by Auguste Rodin, London, 1914, no. XVII, p. 20 & 21
Fridolyn G. Watkins, Rodin Museum of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, 1929, no. 102, illustration of another cast p. 23
Georges Grappe, Catalogue du Musée Rodin. I-Hôtel Biron, 1938, no. 116
Georges Grappe, Catalogue du Musée Rodin. I-Hôtel Biron, 1944, no. 132
Robert Descharnes &Jean-François Chabrun, Auguste Rodin, Lausanne, 1967, illustration of the plaster version p. 125
John L. Tancock, Rodin Museum Handbook, Philadelphia, 1969, no. 17
John L. Tancock, The Sculpture of Auguste Rodin, Philadelphia, 1976, illustration of the plaster version p. 183, illustration of the marble version p. 184
Antoinette Le Normand-Romain, The Bronzes of Rodin, vol. II, Paris, 2007, plaster cast no. S.1196, illustration of another cast p. 470, illustration of the marble and plaster versions p. 471

Rich reddish brown patina. Some very minor surface dirt in the deepest crevices. Minor patina rubbing at the tip of the child's toe. One small nick at the center of the figure's back. Otherwise this work is in very good condition.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

This lifetime cast of a vital theme for the artist was probably executed by the Griffoul & Lorge foundry in France. Known for the supreme quality of their casts, Griffoul & Lorge were favored by Rodin and often commissioned to cast his most important subjects. The rich and variegated tones in the patina of the current work set it apart from other lifetime casts by the artist and endow the work with an unequalled dynamism. Rodin provides an intriguing amalgamation of bas-relief and fully three-dimensional sculpture with Jeune mère à la grotte. The recession of space into the back of the grotto defies the conventions of bas-relief sculpture and endow the work with a sense of fully-informed space.