RODIN SCULPTURE STOLEN FROM ISRAEL MUSEUM

A STATUE BY FRENCH SCULPTOR AUGUSTE RODIN WAS STOLEN FROM THE ISRAEL MUSEUM DURING THE FACILITY'S RECENTLY COMPLETED RENOVATION, THE MUSEUM SAID WEDNESDAY. THE NUDE BRONZE OF FRENCH NOVELIST HONORE DE BALZAC WAS ONE OF A SERIES OF STUDIES RODIN CAST FOR A MONUMENT TO BALZAC ON DISPLAY IN PARIS. IT WAS DONATED TO THE MUSEUM IN 1966 BY THE JEWISH-AMERICAN IMPRESARIO AND LYRICIST BILLY ROSE. THE MUSEUM SAID THE THEFT WAS DISCOVERED THREE MONTHS AGO AND IMMEDIATELY REPORTED IT TO POLICE. POLICE SAY AN INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING BUT WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ABOUT THE CASE. THE STATUE IS 50 INCHES BY 24 INCHES WIDE AND WEIGHS ABOUT 140 POUNDS. IT WAS MOLDED IN 1892 AND CAST POSTHUMOUSLY BETWEEN 1918 AND 1926. RODIN IS RENOWNED FOR THE ICONIC MASTERPIECES SUCH AS 'THE THINKER' AND 'THE KISS'. THE MUSEUM SAID IT COULD NOT PROVIDE A VALUE FOR THE BALZAC PIECE. BUT BASED ON RODIN SCULPTURES OF SIMILAR DIMENSIONS PUT THE ESTIMATED VALUE OF THE STOLEN ARTWORK AT APPROXIMATELY $350,000, ACCORDING TO THE ART LOSS REGISTER, WHICH SPECIALIZES IN RECOVERING STOLEN ART. CHRISTOPHER MARINELLO, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND GENERAL COUNCIL OF THE ART LOSS REGISTER, SAID IT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT TO SELL SUCH AN HIGH-PROFILE PIECE IN THE OPEN MARKET WITHOUT DETECTION. HE SAID IT WAS MOST LIKELY THAT THE THIEVES WOULD MOVE THE PIECE UNDERGROUND, SHOP IT ON THE BLACK MARKET OR RANSOM IT TO AN INSURANCE COMPANY.