Program

My lecture tells the story of my journey to authenticate a marble bust of Napoleon sculpted by Auguste Rodin, which had been sitting in a New Jersey town hall for almost 80 years.  I recount the story of being hired straight out of college for a part time art cataloging project and how it morphed into a search for this mysterious piece’s provenance, eventually culminating in its authentication by the world’s leading Rodin expert.  Along the way I also share the story of Geraldine Rockefeller Dodge, the woman who gifted this artwork, along with an entire town hall, all in the name of her one and only lost son.  My lecture is fully illustrated with engaging present day and historic photographs. 

If you would like more information about the story please check out the article the New York Times wrote about us: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/20/nyregion/a-rodin-hiding-in-plain-sight-in-a-new-jersey-suburb.html