54 FAKE RODINS coming to LSU Museum of Art in Baton Rouge

Note: Footnotes are enclosed with { }.

The so-called "The Kiss" above is one of the 54 non-disclosed fakes posthumously reproduced between 1919 to 1995, some 2 to 78 years after Auguste Rodin's death in 1917 and all with counterfeit "A. Rodin" or "Rodin" signatures posthumously applied, opening at the Louisiana State University's Museum of Art in Baton Rouge on January 24, 2009 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 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. On page 289, 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.

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 where “The Kiss,” in their collection, 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.”

LSU MUSEUM OF ART'S PRESS RELEASE
In January 2009, the LSU Museum of Art's published and posted on their website a -LSU Museum of Art to open "Rodin: A Magnificent Obsession Exhibit"- press release that, in part, states: "This exhibition celebrates the prolific career of legendary French artist Auguste Rodin and features 63 original bronze sculptures from his most famous projects including, 'The Gates of Hell,' 'Monument to the Burghers of Calais' and 'Monument to Balzac'."{1}

Since the dead don't sculpt, much less have careers, are we to just believe or suspend disbelief when the LSU Museum of Art promotes, for the $8 price of admission, 54 posthumous non-disclosed fakes reproduced in bronze as "originals?"

LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY'S HONOR CODE
The Louisiana State University's Honor Code, in part, states: "To act in any way contrary to academic honesty or professional and ethical conduct is considered a violation of the Honor Code. Specific examples of violations include, but are not limited to the following: To misrepresent or falsify research data."{2}

So, if a Louisiana State University student was to bring something to class they didn't create, much less sign and tried to pass it off as theirs and got caught, what would happen?

Louisiana State University's Honor Code states: "One of the following penalties shall be imposed upon students found guilty of violations by the Hearing Panel: 1. Failure in the course, 2. Failure in the course with suspension from school for one year, 3. Expulsion from school at LSUHSC-Shreveport."{3}

So, should the Louisiana State University, much less its' Museum of Art in Baton Rouge, be held to a lesser ethical standard, much less penalty, than the students that attend that university?

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....

FOOTNOTES:
1) http://www.lsu.edu/highlights/2009/01/rodin.shtml
2) www.admissions.lsuhsc.edu/Honor_Code_May_2007.pdf
3) Ibid