AUGUSTE RODIN - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED - HFSID 217995

AUGUSTE RODIN
The sculptor pens a letter to his teacher congratulating him on recent successes
Autograph Letter signed: "Aug Rodin" in black ink, 1½p, 4¾x6¾, separate sheets. 77 rue de Varenne (Paris), 1911 August 29. To "dear Teacher and Friend". In French, translated in full: "My heart goes out to you with all that delights concerning the official distinction that distinguishes you. I'm also happy about the long friendship that binds us. Permit me to renew at this opportunity, the expression of my admiration". In the year in which he wrote this letter, Auguste Rodin (1840-1917), considered to be one of the greatest portraitists in the history of sculpture, was approached about a proposed new museum to honor his work. The Hotel de Biron had been acquired by the state, and Gustave Coquiot and Judith Cladel, along with a number of artists, writers, and politicians, supported purchasing it for a Rodin museum, for which Rodin offered to donate his work and defray the expenses involved in establishing the museum. That same year, Rodin's works were being exhibited at the Salon de la Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts and in Prague, where a bust of Mahler was featured. The sculptor, whose works included The Thinker and The Kiss as well as busts of Hugo, Proust, Shaw and Clemenceau, would see the plans for his museum met with opposition. It would not be until 1916, the year before his death, that the hotel was purchased to showcase the masterpieces that Rodin was willing to donate. Stain at blank upper left corner of first sheet. Otherwise, fine condition.