Collection of 12 portrait bronzes of the Beethoven by French sculptor Antoine Bourdelle, estimates ranging from $80,000-120,000 at Freeman’s on October 21.
All were acquired by Robert Becker, the New York founder of the Beethoven Society, who first visited the Musée Bourdelle in Paris in the 1970s. The artist’s daughter, Rhodia Dufet-Bourdelle, would sell one or two bronzes every year.
The bronzes, which portray Beethoven as the Romantic genius, span Bourdelle’s career – from early examples in the manner of his teacher Rodin to more abstracted ‘mature’ works.
At the top end of the price range (estimate $80,000-120,000) is the 21in (53cm) Beethoven à Deux Mains sculpted in 1908, some 20 years after Bourdelle first started to portray Beethoven. Seven other bronze casts of this work were made, as well as one granite version in the Musée Bourdelle.
