July 6th, at Drouot-Montaigne, at 8pm, an exceptional marble sculpture by Auguste Rodin will be put up for sale, as part of the Impressionist and Modern Art auction organised by the Cornette de Saint Cyr auction house.

This is the first major auction coordinated by Constance Lemasson, newly appointed head of the Impressionist  and Modern Art Department.

The Cornette de Saint Cyr auction house has entrusted this event’s media campaign to Communic’Art.

An exceptional marble by Rodin

The Kneeling Fauness, a marble piece sculpted by Rodin, is signed and dedicated on its pedestal to French painter Puvis de Chavannes (« Au Maître Puvis de Chavannes »).

It belongs to the first research works undertaken by Rodin for the composition of the Gates of Hell, his most famous work. This beautiful 21 5/8 inches high statue illustrates the ambivalent status of women characters in Rodin’s œuvre, both muses and temptresses.

Along with the Fauness, the June 9th auction also features artworks from Maurice Utrillo, Oscar Dominguez, Kees van Dongen, Jean and Raoul Dufy, Marie Laurencin, Paul Rebeyrolle and André Masson, among other Impressionist and Modern Art pieces.

Constance Lemasson, newly appointed head of Impressionist and Modern Art

Constance Lemasson joined the Cornette de Saint Cyr auction house in December 2010, and was recently appointed head of the Impressionist and Modern Art Department.

A specialist of this field, ranging from the 19th century to the first half of the 20th, she offers her expertise on a period not commonly represented at the Cornette de Saint Cyr auction house.

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Open viewing of the auction lots: July 2th-3th

Public auction: July 6th, 8pm

Location: Drouot-Montaigne, 15 avenue Montaigne, 75008 Paris – France

Photo : Faunesse à genoux, Rodin, photograph by Christian Baraja.