The price of escape
A bronze sold under persecution poses a question that another casting cannot answer.
Max Meirowsky collected Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art as well as Asian objects. Under Nazi persecution, the Jewish industrialist prepared to leave Germany for Switzerland.
To finance his flight, he was forced to sell part of his collection. This bronze was lot 63 in the H. W. Lange auction in Berlin on 18 November 1938.
A similar sculpture appeared at Christie’s in New York in 1988, but it has not been established as Meirowsky’s casting. Another version of a Rodin sculpture is not proof that this specific object has been recovered.
Monuments Men and Women Foundation
Scheduled program end: 2026-12-31
Offer advertised by an official source
Reward details & conditions
Up to US$7,500 is currently advertised for this specific work under the WWII Most Wanted Art program. New, non-public information must be submitted directly to the Foundation and lead to physical and legal recovery by the owner. Payment is conditional, may be shared and is determined by the Foundation. This is not a guaranteed payment or an offer by ArtTraceX. The program is scheduled to end on 31 December 2026, unless ended earlier.
Payment and eligibility are governed by the reward provider’s conditions.Artwork Details & DocumentationIdentification, ownership history and supporting records
Madame Rodin
- Artwork title
- Madame RodinMonuments Men and Women Foundation ↗ · checked
- Maker / attribution
- Auguste RodinMonuments Men and Women Foundation ↗ · checked
- Object type
- SculptureMonuments Men and Women Foundation ↗ · checked
- Materials & technique
- BronzeMonuments Men and Women Foundation ↗ · checked
- Measurements
- 26 × 19 cm (10.24 × 7.48 in.)Monuments Men and Women Foundation ↗ · checked
Not documented in this record: inscriptions & markings · distinguishing features · creation date / period · subject.
Documented ownership history
- Before 1938
- 1938-11-18
Lot 63 in the forced sale at H. W. Lange, Berlin, to finance Meirowsky’s escape.
Monuments Men and Women Foundation ↗ · checked
Only stages supported by the cited sources are shown. This list is not a complete chain of ownership.
Record sources
Identification details follow the Object ID categories where documented. Ownership history is recorded separately; this documentation is not an authentication or a certificate of ownership.
Documentary sources
An original ArtTraceX synthesis. Sources checked .