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Premium Senequier-Crozet (Anciennement Sadde Grenoble)

99 - RODIN, Auguste (1840–1917). L.A.
See original version (French)

Estimate €600 - €800
Sale commission
Description
RODIN, Auguste (1840–1917). L.A.S. [addressed to the painter Jean-Charles Cazin (1841–1901)]. No place, 29 December 1884. 3 pp. in-8. Mourning paper. Very faint and small pinholes. Small tears at the folds and two traces of tab marks. A few spelling mistakes. The genesis of *The Burghers of Calais*. An exceptional document. ‘What a charming letter you have written; I sense a warm friendship in it. I am touched by it and honoured that an artist, a master, should take the trouble to give me so much of his precious time. It feels as though I am right there with you: the fatigue of Saturday, the poor road, the frustration of not finding anyone at the station on two occasions, returning disappointed at not being able to introduce Legros [the painter Alphonse Legros] to your friends. Didn’t Legros tell you that I’d informed Calais Town Hall of your visit—yours and his?” Regarding Omer Dewavrin, mayor of Calais: ‘Mr Dewavrin, the mayor, had come to Paris TO COMMISSION ME TO CREATE, ALMOST, THE MONUMENT. Nevertheless, he accepted or requested sketches from other artists. The sketch I made, which you like—which bodes well for my work should I carry it out—can be produced for 35,000 francs. That is not expensive, as the foundry would charge me no more than 12,000 to 15,000, let’s say 5,000 for this local stone, which is hard and would form the bulk of the sculpture, which would aim to be triumphal if I could convey the idea; I would be left with 15,000, including the casting, which would be a fair sum since I would have to oversee the architecture. Mr Liouville (whom I saw this morning at the studio), Member of Parliament for Calais, is to speak to Mr Ribot and tell him that Cazin and Legros consider my design to be well conceived. I have a friend, Mr Isaac of Rue des Maréchaux [Calais], who is working on this matter with great enthusiasm. Now, dear friend, I am delighted that Legros has brought us back together in collaboration, and I hope that, alongside you, Madame Cazin [the sculptor and painter Marie Cazin] will also create a medal. The synthesis and vigour of your talent, which must particularly capture a head and a symbol on the obverse and reverse! You know I nearly went to see you—I was very tempted—but the days are short, and you must make the most of the few hours of daylight we have. Has Madame Cazin’s statue been in place for some time now? You haven’t said anything to me about it […]’. Rodin had studied under Jean-Charles Cazin. The letter was partly published in the *Revue universelle* (volume 61, 1935, p. 441) with the following words: ‘In the midst of his many projects, Rodin learnt that the City of Calais had decided to erect a monument in honour of the heroic burghers who, in the fourteenth century, offered their lives to the King of England to save the besieged city […]. A friend of Rodin’s from Calais, Mr Alphonse Isaac, informed him of this at once, urged him to try to secure the commission and promised to support him wholeheartedly. […]. At Mr Isaac’s urging, the mayor of Calais, Mr Omer Dewavrin, came to Paris; he visited the sculptor’s studio; deeply moved by what he saw, ‘he practically commissioned the monument from him, but (perhaps merely as a formality) he asked other artists for models; […] Rodin was still in mourning for his father, who had died the previous year. He spoke of his high hopes to his friends, particularly to Alphonse Legros. The latter, who was loyally devoted to him, enlisted the help of the painter Cazin, their former fellow student at the Petite École de dessin from 1854 to 1857, and re-established contact between Cazin and Rodin. […] In late December, the two artists went to visit the mayor of Calais and asked to see Rodin’s sketch. The great etcher sensed the potential this held, for, on his return to England, anticipating the influence Cazin might have on his compatriots, he wrote to him: ‘Was your visit to Calais a success for Rodin? There lies an opportunity for him to create a masterpiece. ’ Cazin was no less enthusiastic about the project and hastened to convey this to Rodin, who replied immediately, on 29 December 1884.” Expert: Mathilde LALIN-LEPREVOST.
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About the sale GRENOBLE – Arts Collections – October 2026
Auction location
Auction time 10/06/2026 at 6:00 PM
Lot description modified on 09/28/2026 at 9:12 AM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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