M. Le Moine (acquired before 1908)
Galerie Eugène Druet, Paris (acquired between 1908 and 1909)
Private Collection, Paris (acquired from the above on 20th December 1911)
Thence by descent to the present owners

Georges Grappe, Catalogue du Musée Rodin, Paris, 1927, no. 137, illustration of another cast p. 64
Athena Tacha Spear, Rodin Sculpture in the Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, 1967, illustration of another cast pl. 61
Cécile Goldscheider, Rodin Sculpture, London, 1970, illustration of another cast pl. 40
John Tancock, The Sculpture of Auguste Rodin, Philadelphia, 1976, no. 67-69-13, illustration of another cast p. 390
Claudie Judrin, Monique Laurent & Dominique Viéville, Auguste Rodin, Le Monument des Bourgeois de Calais (1884-1895), Paris, 1977, no. 88, illustration of another cast p. 224
Antoinette Le Normand-Romain, The Bronzes of Rodin, Catalogue of Works in the Musée Rodin, Paris, 2007, vol. I, no. S.422, illustrations of another cast p. 220

Attractive gold/dark brown patina. There are some fine scratches and patina wear in places, consistent with age and handling, and some surface dirt in the crevices. There are some tiny white paint flecks to the cloak at the figure's proper right shoulder. Otherwise, this work is in overall very good condition. Colours: overall fairly accurate in the printed catalogue, though the patina is slightly darker in the original.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

In 1347, during the siege of the town of Calais in the Hundred Years War, its six celebrated burghers offered themselves as hostages to the King of England, Edward III. The King agreed to lift the siege on condition that the burghers presented themselves in his camp as hostages, carrying the keys to the city. In 1884, Auguste Rodin was commissioned to commemorate their heroic act and the result, Les Bourgeois de Calais, is now widely recognised as one of the greatest achievements in early modern sculpture.

During the inauguration of the monument on 13th June 1895 in Calais, Octave Mirbeau proclaimed: 'The movement, the attitudes, the expressions are so true, of such a genuine human feeling, that, behind the group, ready to go, we can actually hear the buzzing of the crowd encouraging them and sobbing, the cheers and farewells. No other complication, no scenic concern of the group; no allegory, not one attribute. Only expressive, fine forms, so expressive that they become ready states of mind' ('Auguste Rodin', in Le Journal, 4th June 1895, quoted in Catherine Lampert, 'The Burghers of Calais', in Rodin (exhibition catalo🎃gue), Royal Academy of Arts, London, 2006-07, p. 23ജ6).