54 non-disclosed FAKE RODINS coming to the Frist Center for the Visual Arts

This so-called "The Kiss" is one of the 54 posthumous non-disclosed fakes, all with counterfeit "A. Rodin" or "Rodin" signatures applied, coming to the Frist Center for the Visual Arts on September 12, 2008 in the titled exhibition: Rodin, A Magnificent Obsession, Sculpture from the Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Foundation.

What proof is there that this so-called "The Kiss," listed above as cast by the Alexis Rudier foundry, is a posthumous fake with a counterfeit signature?

ALEXIS RUDIER FOUNDRY WENT INTO BUSINESS IN 1902

The Alexis Rudier foundry was in business from 1902 to 1952 some twenty-one years after the listed date of “1881-82” for "The Kiss." The dates for the Alexis Rudier foundry are confirmed on page 290 in the former Musee Rodin curator Monique Laurent’s RODIN AND HIS FOUNDERS essay published in the National Gallery of Art’s 1981 Rodin Rediscovered exhibition catalogue.

Obviously, that doesn't mean this so-called "The Kiss" could not have been reproduced into bronze by the Alexis Rudier foundry between 1902 and Auguste Rodin's death in 1917 except for the following fact.

LEBLANC-BARBEDIENNE FOUNDRY CAST THE KISS TILL 1919

The Leblanc-Barbedienne foundry owned the "exclusive rights" for reproducing "The Kiss," in bronze, till 1919 . This is confirmed on page 289 in the former Musee Rodin curator Monique Laurent's RODIN AND HIS FOUNDERS essay published in the National Gallery of Art's 1981 Rodin Rediscovered exhibition catalogue. The author wrote: “Leblanc-Barbedienne thus owned exclusive rights to the working of reductions for the Eternal Spring and of The Kiss except for the original size which the sculptor reserved for himself, but with the obligation to reserve the casting for the same firm.”

THE KISS CAST BY ALEXIS RUDIER FOUNDRY AFTER 1919

Therefore, the earliest the Alexis Rudier foundry could have legally reproduced “The Kiss,” in bronze, would have been in 1919 some two years or more after Auguste Rodin’s death in 1917. That is almost thirty-eight odd years after the overtly misleading “1881-2” date listed for “The Kiss” by the Frist Center for the Visual Arts and the Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Foundation.

Published 2001
Merrell Publishers Limited
Copyright © Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Foundation 2001
ISBN 1 85894 143 hardback


RODIN A MAGNIFICENT OBSESSION CATALOGUE
Yet, the Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Foundation portrays "The Kiss" in their published Rodin A Magnificent Obsession catalogue as predating Auguste Rodin's death in 1917.

This is confirmed on page 176 of the Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Foundation’s 2001 Rodin A Magnificent Obsession catalogue. “The Kiss” is listed as follows: “The Kiss, c. 1881-82, date of cast unknown, Bronze, Alexis Rudier, 34 x 17 x 22 in., (80.4 x 43.2 x55.9 cm), Signed A. Rodin and inscribed Alexis RUDIER Fondeur, PARIS with raised signature A. Rodin inside., Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Foundation, 1689.”

So, how did a non-disclosed posthumous fake come to be: "Signed A Rodin?"

However it may be argued by those with self-interest, Auguste Rodin died in 1917 and the dead don't sculpt, much less sign anything.

CONCLUSION

To learn more about one of the largest 2oth to 21st-century art frauds and the violation of Auguste Rodin’s 1916 Will by a corrupt Musee Rodin who: 1) does not reproduce in bronze from Auguste Rodin’s original plasters, 2) posthumously applies counterfeit “Rodin” or “A. Rodin” signatures to their second-generation-removed -FAKES-, 3) does not limit editions to twelve as promoted, 4) has allowed the Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Foundation to pick the color/patina of a bronze they in turn promote as an original Auguste Rodin and 5) falsely attributes life-casts and altered work to Auguste Rodin, link to:

Rodin A Magnificent Obsession FRAUD, the Iris & B....

Additionally to learn about a prior fraud at Frist Center for Visual Arts, link to:

SIX FAKE SCULPTURES at the Frist Center for the Vi...