Man With A Broken Nose (Photo provided)

By DARLA MCCAMMON
Lakeland Art Association

PIERCETON — Last month a museum in Copenhagen Denmark experienced the theft of a Rodin (pronounced Row-Dan) sculpture. The bust is called, “The Man With The Broken Nose” (see photo). The thieves brazenly walked through the museum in a dry run about a week before the actual theft, when museum authorities believe they also dismantled the alarm system in some way. The thieves were caught on video during both the dry run as well as the day of the theft. The Copenhagen police are frustrated of course, and are searching for the two suspects.

The day of the theft, they simply took a paper bag, covered the statue with it, lifted it off the pedestal and calmly walked away. The sculpture was made by Rodin in 1863 and is valued at $300,000. It was obviously targeted for the robbery as the crooks passed up other work and headed for this specific piece. We have covered the stories of other great art works that have been stolen and never recovered. Authorities surmise this bust, like those others we discussed, have been taken for private collectors of great wealth and few morals.

Auguste Rodin, the artist of the sculpture, grew up in Paris. His father was an inspector for the police and his mother was a seamstress. They lived in an average district and Rodin was able to attend the “Petit école,” a school for artists. He was not accepted at the next level of art school but instead served as an apprentice, where his education excelled with the hands-on opportunities many of his contemporaries did not receive.

Rodin continued to learn and improve and began signing his own name. A trip to Italy would impress Rodin as he studied the sculptures of Michelangelo and adopted much of that excellent method for himself. Rodin began obtaining commissions and making a name for himself after 1880.  Rodin obtained a fabulous commission when he was selected for work inside the Pantheon. Politics became an issue however, and a beautiful work by Rodin was rejected.

All was not lost however, as Rodin unveiled a marble monument that was displayed at the Palais Royal in 1909 and later moved to the Musée Rodin in Paris where, to date, it has not been stolen. Rodin became quite prolific and was able to employ assistant sculptors to help him with his work. Rodin was born Nov. 12, 1840, and died Nov. 17, 1917, in Meudon, France. His work is enduring and valuable, which may explain the theft, unless someone just has a penchant for broken noses.

Upcoming and Current Events

• The Lisa Bemish exhibit opened at Warsaw City Hall Gallery July 22. Visit 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily.
• August offers the agricultural art contest of the tomato festival in Pierceton. Enter at LAA.
• Adult and children workshops always available. Call (574) 594-9950 for information.
• Jan Hazelett work on exhibit at LAA through August
• Brenda Stichter exhibit opens at LAA Sept. 3 through 26.  Reception at 1 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 6.
• The third annual Eel River Art Festival will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12, in North Manchester. Following is the ninth annual Warsminster Dog Show and Furball at 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12, at the Warsaw Toyota dealership. Several art pieces will be auctioned off and food will be catered by Cerulean.
• LAA is located at 107 N. First St. Pierceton or www.lakelandartassociation.org. “Like” them on Facebook. Contact author/artist Darla at [email protected] with questions.