{"title":"5.26 Blue Chip Artists","description":"","products":[{"product_id":"leternel-printemps-by-auguste-rodin","title":"L'Éternel Printemps by Auguste Rodin","description":"Auguste Rodin\u003cbr\u003e 1840-1917 | French \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cem\u003eL'Éternel Printemps\u003cbr\u003e (The Eternal Spring)\u003c\/em\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Bronze with brown patina\u003cbr\u003e Signed \"Rodin\" (on base), with Barbedienne foundry mark \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Perhaps one of the most well-known and celebrated sculptures of his oeuvre, Auguste Rodin's passionate bronze \u003cem\u003eL'Éternel Printemps\u003c\/em\u003e is the embodiment of this artist's rare genius. Conceived in 1884, the bronze is regarded as one of the masterpieces of his mature output, conveying a sensuality and aura of passionate love from every angle. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e This work was conceived at the height of Rodin's career in 1884, during an intense period of work on his pivotal \u003cem\u003eGates of Hell\u003c\/em\u003e commission. It tells the age-old narrative of forbidden love, depicting the affair of Francesca da Rimini and Paolo Malatesta, who famously appear in Dante's \u003cem\u003eInferno\u003c\/em\u003e for their transgression. Highlighting the lovers' bliss rather than their ultimate punishment, Rodin felt the bronze was too joyful and removed it from his \u003cem\u003eGates of Hell\u003c\/em\u003e. Instead, he executed it as a stand-alone sculpture that would become one of his most acclaimed and beloved works. \u003cem\u003eThe Kiss\u003c\/em\u003e, another masterpiece by the sculptor, shares a similar origin and subject, though \u003cem\u003eL'Éternel Printemps\u003c\/em\u003e is more dynamic in its pose. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Rodin's technical mastery was unmatched in his day, and by the turn of the century, he was regarded as the best sculptor since Michelangelo. His composition is dynamic from every angle, utilizing negative space in the arch of the woman's back and her lover's outstretched arm to create movement and feeling. Like many of his major works, Rodin looked back to one of his previous models in order to develop his amorous lovers. The female figure is based on his sensuous \u003cem\u003eTorso of Adèle\u003c\/em\u003e (Musée Rodin, Paris), which appears in the upper left-hand corner of the tympanum of his \u003cem\u003eGates of Hell\u003c\/em\u003e. \u003cem\u003eL'Éternel Printemps\u003c\/em\u003e is also believed to resemble Camille Claudel, a sculptor with whom Rodin began a passionate affair after she joined his studio in 1882. The autobiographical element of Rodin's own forbidden love perhaps accounts for the work's intimacy and intensity. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e After its successful showing at the \u003cem\u003eSalon\u003c\/em\u003e of 1897, Rodin awarded the casting of this bronze to the Barbedienne foundry in 1898. This sculpture is from the founder's second reduction, meaning it is the second largest of four versions they produced. It was also importantly cast during Rodin's lifetime and thus under his supervision, between 1905-1910. Other versions of this bronze can be found in museums worldwide, including the Musée Rodin (Paris), the Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York), the Museum of Fine Arts (Boston) and others. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Auguste Rodin is counted among the greatest artists of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, along with names such as van Gogh, Monet and Renoir. In the history of sculpture, he occupies a place even more important than his painterly contemporaries, for he alone revived the art of sculpture, returning it to prominence among mainstream art. During the mid-1870s, after two decades of struggling as an artist, Rodin visited Italy and studied the works of Michelangelo, who inspired his first major work, \u003cem\u003eThe Bronze Age\u003c\/em\u003e. Exhibited in Brussels in 1877, it was so well received that the State purchased the work in 1880, which led to the commission of Rodin's \u003cem\u003eThe Gates of Hell\u003c\/em\u003e. His works, so naturalistic and expressive in detail, were far removed from conventional, decorative sculpture and ultimately transformed the history of art. Today, he is widely regarded as the father of modern sculpture. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e This important work is accompanied by a letter from the Comité Auguste Rodin confirming it will be included in the forthcoming \u003cem\u003eCatalogue Critique de l’Oeuvre Sculpté d’Auguste Rodin\u003c\/em\u003e by Jérôme Le Blay. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Conceived in 1884; cast between 1905-1910  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e 20 1\/4\" high x 26\" wide x 13\" deep \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Provenance:\u003cbr\u003e Private Collection, Argentina, acquired in the 1910s\u003cbr\u003e Private Collection, France\u003cbr\u003e M.S. Rau, New Orleans\u003cbr\u003e Private Collection, Texas\u003cbr\u003e M.S. Rau, New Orleans","brand":"M.S. Rau","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44218370883719,"sku":"32-1428","price":1285000.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0083\/2471\/0466\/files\/32-1428_1_71ef979d-528b-4ae6-b255-cfbf2912b420.png?v=1774963983"},{"product_id":"longnook-valley-by-edward-hopper","title":"Longnook Valley by Edward Hopper","description":"Edward Hopper\u003cbr\u003e 1882-1967 | American \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cem\u003eLongnook Valley\u003c\/em\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Signed “Edward Hopper” (lower right)\u003cbr\u003e Watercolor and pencil on paper \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Edward Hopper is unparalleled in his portrayal of the American ethos, capturing landscapes and figures with a command of light and atmosphere that defines his legacy. One of the most important American artists of the modern era, Hopper reached extraordinary heights with \u003cem\u003eLongnook Valley \u003c\/em\u003e, a radiant landscape painted on his beloved Cape Cod in 1934. Much larger and more vibrant than most of his watercolors, this work is an exceptionally rare treasure of American art. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Depicting a brilliant New England vista on a sunlit autumn day, this watercolor has been regarded as a masterwork since its creation. Beginning in 1935, \u003cem\u003eLongnook Valley\u003c\/em\u003e has traveled to dozens of major museums around the world—from New York to Milan to Tokyo. It was once part of the permanent collection of the Whitney Museum of American Art, where it featured in many of the institution’s most important exhibitions. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The work exemplifies Hopper’s exceptional talent for the challenging medium of watercolor. Layers of delicately applied hues capture the iconic brilliance of fall in New England. In his official ledger, Hopper included a sketch and noted its “vivid color” and “blue sky with grey bird cloud,” showing that he recognized this scene as one of remarkable intensity. A winding road anchors the composition, vanishing into a dramatic band of trees and drawing the viewer inward with the quiet mystery that is quintessential Hopper. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Hopper and his wife first visited Cape Cod in 1930, and the Truro Valley made an immediate and lasting impression. From his studio nestled above the cape, he walked daily to the shoreline, captivated by the landscape’s sweeping forms and luminous light—motifs that became central to his art. The couple returned every summer for the rest of their lives, and Hopper’s paintings of this area remain some of his most coveted works. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e A master realist, Hopper captured a rare narrative depth, achieved through precise composition and luminous color, giving even the simplest subjects a profound emotional resonance. He developed an unmistakable visual language defined by honesty and a deep sensitivity to the American experience, and his influence can be felt across generations of artists, filmmakers and writers. Few painters have shaped the visual identity of America as entirely—and as enduringly—as Edward Hopper. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Large-scale watercolors of this caliber are exceptionally rare on the market. Many of Hopper’s finest examples now reside in major American museums, including the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Painted 1934 \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Paper: 20\" high x 27 3\/4\" wide (50.80 x 70.49 cm)\u003cbr\u003e Frame: 31 1\/2\" high x 39\" wide x 2\" deep (80.01 x 99.06 x 5.08 cm) \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/rau-sfimages.s3.amazonaws.com\/dossier\/Dossier_32-1960.pdf\" target=\"new\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eView the Dossier\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Provenance:\u003cbr\u003e The artist\u003cbr\u003e Josephine N. Hopper, acquired in 1967 by descent from the above\u003cbr\u003e Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, acquired in 1970 by bequest from the above\u003cbr\u003e Private Collection, acquired from the above\u003cbr\u003e M.S. Rau, New Orleans \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Literature:\u003cbr\u003e Gail Levin, \u003cem\u003eEdward Hopper: A Catalogue Raisonné\u003c\/em\u003e, New York, 1995, vol. II , no. W-298, p. 267 (illustrated) \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Exhibited:\u003cbr\u003e Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, \u003cem\u003eThe Thirty-Third Annual Philadelphia Watercolor Exhibition, and the Thirty-Fourth Annual Exhibition of Miniatures\u003c\/em\u003e, 1935.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e New York, Whitney Museum of American Art, \u003cem\u003eEdward Hopper: Selections from the Hopper Bequest\u003c\/em\u003e, 1971-74, no. 66, p. 55, illustrated, p. 64; this exhibition traveled to: Palm Beach, The Society of the Four Arts; Fort Worth Art Museum; La Jolla Museum of Art; Sacramento, E.B. Crocker Art Gallery; Seattle Art Museum; Kansas City, William Rockhill Nelson Gallery and Atkins Museum of Fine Arts; Richmond, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts; Athens, Georgia Museum of Art; Baltimore Museum of Art; Madison, Elvehjem Art Center; Toledo Museum of Art; Fort Lauderdale Museum of the Arts and Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e New York, Whitney Museum of American Art, Downtown Branch, \u003cem\u003eEdward Hopper: Paintings, Prints, Drawings\u003c\/em\u003e, 1974.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Tokyo, Isetan Art Hall, \u003cem\u003eAmerican Painting 1900 - 1940\u003c\/em\u003e, 1976.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e San Jose Museum of Art; Newport, Wales, Newport Museum and Art Gallery; Edinburgh, The Fruitmarket Gallery; Münster, Germany, Westfälisches Landesmuseum für Kunst und Kulturgeschichte; Llandudno, Wales, Mostyn Gallery; and Milan, Padiglione d'Arte Contemporanea, \u003cem\u003eEdward Hopper: The Formative Years, 1980-81\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Stamford, Whitney Museum of American Art, Fairfield County Branch, \u003cem\u003eEdward Hopper Landscapes\u003c\/em\u003e, 1986.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Stamford, Whitney Museum of American Art, Fairfield County Branch, \u003cem\u003eEdward Hopper: City, Country, Town: Selections from the Permanent Collection of the Whitney Museum of American Art\u003c\/em\u003e, 1986-88; this exhibition traveled to: Iowa City, University of Iowa Museum of Art; Scottsdale Center for the Arts; Williamsburg, Muscarelle Museum of Art; Greenville, South Carolina, Greenville County Museum of Art and Charleston, West Virginia, Sunrise Art Museum.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e New York, Whitney Museum of American Art and San Jose Museum of Art, \u003cem\u003eAmerican Art: 1900-1940: A History Reconsidered\u003c\/em\u003e, 1995.","brand":"M.S. Rau","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43774824153223,"sku":"32-1960","price":2850000.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0083\/2471\/0466\/files\/32-1960_1_ea4013e5-02f8-4e2d-a562-7bd4c841bc7e.png?v=1769779236"},{"product_id":"un-beau-matin-dete-by-henri-matisse","title":"Un beau matin d'été by Henri Matisse","description":"Henri Matisse\u003cbr\u003e 1869-1954 | French \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cem\u003eUn beau matin d'été\u003cbr\u003e (A beautiful summer morning)\u003c\/em\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Signed \"Henri Matisse\" (lower right)\u003cbr\u003e Oil on canvas \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e This exceptionally vibrant oil is among the most coveted Matisse masterworks. Finding any painting by this giant of modern art is difficult, but one from the pivotal year of 1905—the origin of the Fauves—is an incredible rarity. \u003cem\u003eUn beau matin d'été\u003c\/em\u003e was not only painted in this critical year, but it also captures the birthplace of this groundbreaking movement. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e In the summer of 1905, Matisse and his friend André Derain spent a few weeks painting and drawing along the enchanting blue waters of the French Riviera. Their time in the quaint fishing village of Collioure would go on to be one of the most important moments in art history. It was here that Matisse pushed his color palette and energetic brushwork to daring new heights, which founded an entire movement. In \u003cem\u003eUn beau matin d'été\u003c\/em\u003e, painted during this fateful summer in Collioure, the surface pulses with electric hues, and Matisse's confident strokes bring the vivid street scene swirling to life. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e When Matisse exhibited the works he created in Collioure a few months later at the Salon d'Automne, one critic, Louis Vauxcelles, famously referred to the works as \"les fauves,\" which translates to \"wild beasts.\" Matisse and his circle took up this name as a badge of honor, and the Fauves became the first modern art movement of the 20th century. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Matisse created just fifteen canvases during this pivotal stay in Collioure, making \u003cem\u003eUn beau matin d'été\u003c\/em\u003e one of the rarest treasures in his vast oeuvre. Almost all of these important works are in prestigious institutions worldwide, including the Museum of Modern Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Importantly, this work has also been requested for an upcoming major exhibition at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art in 2026. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Matisse was renowned throughout his career for his versatility as an artist, and his revolutionary works in painting, drawing, sculpture, graphic arts, paper cutouts and book illustration changed the course of modern art. As the leading force of the Fauves, his bold colors and simplified shapes radically challenged tradition and influenced generations of artists to come. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Painted 1905 \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Canvas: 15 1\/4\" high x 12 1\/4\" wide (38.74 x 31.12 cm)\u003cbr\u003e Frame: 28 1\/4\" high x 25 1\/4\" wide x 4 1\/4\" deep (71.76 x 64.14 x 10.80 cm) \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/rau-sfimages.s3.amazonaws.com\/dossier\/Dossier_32-2148.pdf\" target=\"new\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eView the Dossier\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Provenance:\u003cbr\u003e Galerie Druet, Paris (1908)\u003cbr\u003e Professor Braune, Breslauer (acquired from the above in 1908)\u003cbr\u003e Galerie Thannhauser, Luzern (16 December 1926)\u003cbr\u003e Galerie Matthiesen, Berlin (1927)\u003cbr\u003e Charles H. Worcester (1928)\u003cbr\u003e Helen W. Bradley (donated from the above)\u003cbr\u003e Kenneth Ingels, California (by descent from the above)\u003cbr\u003e Private collection, Europe (acquired in 2006)\u003cbr\u003e Private collection, Paris (acquired in 2013)\u003cbr\u003e M.S. Rau, New Orleans  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Exhibited:\u003cbr\u003e Ceret, Musée d’art moderne; Le Cateau-Cambresis, Musée Matisse, \u003cem\u003eMatisse-Derain: Collioure 1905, un été fauve\u003c\/em\u003e, 2005-06, p. 81, no. 8 (illustrated)\u003cbr\u003e This work has been requested for a major Matisse exhibition at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art in 2026","brand":"M.S. Rau","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44518681411719,"sku":"32-2148","price":5500000.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0083\/2471\/0466\/files\/32-2148_1.png?v=1777553697"}],"url":"https:\/\/rauantiques.com\/collections\/5-26-blue-chip-artists.oembed","provider":"M.S. Rau","version":"1.0","type":"link"}