After 24 long years, a stunning Rodin original was returned to its rightful owner.
Dating to 1886, “Young Girl with Serpent” is a prime example of Auguste Rodin’s genius. The figure sits on her knees, with a pensive expression and her arms wrapped around her shoulders. The mastery of modeling and acute observation of anatomy are breathtaking in their accuracy. In 1991, the sculpture — along with an estimated $1 million in other artworks — was stolen from a Beverly Hills mansion after a Swiss housekeeper sold duplicates of his employers’ house keys to a criminal gang for $5,000.
The housekeeper was quickly caught, but the sculpture’s whereabouts remained a mystery until this year. After nearly 24 years, the sculpture surfaced by consignment at Christie’s, London, in 2011. After four years of negotiation, the sculpture was returned unconditionally to the original owner, who is now in her 80s. The sculpture is estimated to be worth around $100,000. Other works stolen from the mansion, including a Rodin sketch of “The Kiss” and another sculpture, “The Eternal Spring,” are still missing.
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Rodin Returned
