Rodin's bust of Mahler

[Phoenix]

I saw an earlier discussion re. Rodin's famous bust of Mahler, but thought it would be best to start a new one.  Hope you don't mind.

For many years I have been interested in getting Rodin's bust of Mahler but have had difficulty in locating a quality copy.  Today, however, I found what might be the best affordable reproduction yet, and wanted to see if any of you have seen this copy in person:

http://www.statue.com/Products/Composer-and-Musician-Busts/Mahler-Gustave-Bust-17-5-High.html

Thanks, Lloyd

[James Meckley]

Lloyd,

Not only have I seen this particular reproduction but I purchased one about six months ago. I, too, spent years searching for a satisfactory copy of the Rodin Mahler bust, and I'd all but given up hope when I finally spotted this one.

It was created by Lillian Vespertino, a young Asian sculptor, and it's done in cast resin mounted on a wood base. The four photographs on the Statue.com Website don't come close to doing it justice. The patina is a much darker brown than shown and it has a light sheen, rather like one of the late Rodin castings (there have been many estate-authorized posthumous castings of both 'A' and 'B' busts with several different patinas), and the wood base is now two-tiered with a darker stain to match the shade of the bust. It would be an easy project to detach the bust and put it on a base of your own choosing, say marble.

I think of it as Vespertino's impression of Rodin's impression of Mahler. She seems to have based it on Rodin's 'B' version—the more realistic of the two bronze busts. I have this reproduction in my living room sitting atop a 45-inch-tall white pedestal so the bust is at the same height Mahler's head would have been when standing. Owning it gives me great pleasure indeed—it's a better copy than I ever expected to find, especially at this price.

James

NOTE: The avatar I use on this site is a photograph of a vintage Rodin Mahler bust once owned by Bruno Walter. It is not the Vespertino reproduction.

[barry guerrero]

Guys,

A bit O.T., but: if you ever find yourselves on the campus of UCLA, there's an incredible sculpture, cylinder thing-ee that Mahler's daughter made. Incredibly, it sits in the green area between the two directions of a major street that runs right through the middle of UCLA. If you're there, it's not to be missed. Scroll about 3/4ths the way down this attachment to see a couple of good photos of it. It's really something.

http://www.justabovesunset.com/200908/html/campus_life.html

[waderice]

Guys,

A bit O.T., but: if you ever find yourselves on the campus of UCLA, there's an incredible sculpture, cylinder thing-ee that Mahler's daughter made. Incredibly, it sits in the green area between the two directions of a major street that runs right through the middle of UCLA. If you're there, it's not to be missed. Scroll about 3/4ths the way down this attachment to see a couple of good photos of it. It's really something.

http://www.justabovesunset.com/200908/html/campus_life.html

Something I never knew; thanks for putting us on to this sculpture.  I'm a bit surprised it's out in the weather, but considering California climate, I don't think it would deteriorate all that much where it currently is in the same amount of time than if it were further east.  But even yet, probably important that it eventually be put in an art gallery or somewhere else indoors.

Wade

[Phoenix]

James, thanks so much for your response.  Statue.com has it one sale (20%) til Monday.  I might just give myself a Christmas present.