A stunning bronze sculpture by Camille Claudel, titled "L'Âge mûr," has been unexpectedly discovered in a long-abandoned Paris apartment and is set to go under the hammer on February 16 in Orléans.
Matthieu Semont, the inventory manager who found the piece during a succession inventory on September 17, expressed his emotional reaction upon recognizing the artwork. “It’s more of a meeting than a discovery; it’s magical, I cried,” he said, noting that the sculpture had been missing for over a century.
Semont recounted the moment he uncovered the sculpture, which had been covered in dust and fabric in a dark apartment closed for 15 years. His familiarity with the piece, having worked on it 25 years prior, allowed him to identify it immediately.
The bronze depicts a poignant life cycle through three figures, including a kneeling woman, reflecting the tumultuous relationship between Claudel and renowned sculptor Auguste Rodin. The piece, which was part of an unfulfilled state commission, symbolizes Claudel’s emotional struggles following their separation.
Also known as “La Destinée” or “La Fatalité,” this significant work has only a few existing copies, with some housed in prestigious museums. Measuring 61.5 x 85 x 37.5 centimeters, it is signed by Claudel and features the foundry mark of her close friend, Eugène Blot.
Estimated to fetch between €1.5 million and €2 million, the sculpture will be auctioned by Philocale in Orléans.