MALLORY MORTILLARO, DISCOVERED RODIN SCULPTURE: YOU FELT LIKE YOU WALKED INTO SOME KIND OF MAGICAL MYSTERY STORY.
VANESSA: YOU SEE, THREE YEARS AGO THE HARTLEY DODGE FOUNDATION HIRED MORTILLARO TO HELP CATALOG THEIR PHOTO COLLECTION.
MALLORY MORTILLARO, DISCOVERED RODIN SCULPTURE: THEY SAID 'WE ALSO HAVE SOME OTHER ARTWORK, IF YOU WANT TO TAKE A LOOK YOU'RE MORE THAN
WELCOME TO SEE IF THERE IS SOMETHING WORTH RESEARCHING.
VANESSA: BOY WAS THERE. FOUNDATION PRESIDENT NICOLAS PLATT EXPLAINS WHAT HAPPENED IN DECEMBER OF 2014.
NICOLAS W. PLATT, PRES., HARTLEY DODGE FOUNDATION: MALLORY WAS WALKING AROUND THE BUILDING, SHE LOOKED AT THIS BUST…SHE WAS FEELING ALONG THE
BASE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROVIDENCE OF THIS MARBLE BUST WAS AND HER FINGERS RAN ACROSS SOMETHING CHISELED.
VANESSA: TURNED ON HER FLASHLIGHT, THE SIGNATURE CAME INTO VIEW.
MALLORY MORTILLARO, DISCOVERED RODIN SCULPTURE: I THOUGHT IF THIS WAS A REAL RODIN SURELY SOMEONE WOULD HAVE KNOWN AND DONE SOMETHING ABOUT
IT.
NICOLAS W. PLATT, PRES., HARTLEY DODGE FOUNDATION: THERE WAS NO PAPERWORK NO RECORD THAT IT ENTERED THE BUILDING AND LET ALONE SITTING
IN THE CORNER FOR 85 YEARS.
VANESSA: THERE WAS A LOT OF SKEPTICISM AT FIRST. THEN IT ALL CAME TOGETHER.
GERALDINE ROCKEFELLER DODGE DONATED ALL THE ANTIQUITIES HERE INCLUDING THE FRENCH SCULPTURE.
VANESSA MURDOCK, REPORTING / STANDUP BRIDGE: FOR TWO YEARS NOW, ALL WHO KNEW THAT THIS IS AN ACTUAL RODIN HAVE KEPT AS QUIET AS THE STATUE
ITSELF.
NICOLAS W. PLATT, PRES., HARTLEY DODGE FOUNDATION: ONCE WE FOUND OUT, WE KNEW WE HAD TO SIT ON THAT INFORMATION BECAUSE OF THE INSURANCE AND THE
SECURITY.
VANESSA: YOU CAN FINALLY TELL THE WORLD.
MALLORY MORTILLARO, DISCOVERED RODIN SCULPTURE: YEAH IT'S BEEN THAT STORY YOU TELL YOUR CLOSE FAMILY AND FRIENDS WITH THAT CAVEAT 'PLEASE
DON'T TELL ANYBODY BUT WE HAVE A RODIN.
VANESSA: AND ITS BEEN HIDING IN PLAIN SITE FOR DECADES.
RICK: THANKS VANESSA. TURNS OUT THE SCULPTURE IS WORTH AT LEAST 4 MILLION DOLLARS! THE FOUNDATION SAID THEY WOULD LOAN IT TO THE PHILADELPHIA
MUSEUM OF ART FOR THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF RODIN’S DEATH.
Find Out More
Website Article: Cleveland Museum of Art, Rodin's The Thinker | Visit a Rodin sculpture right here in Cleveland.
Encyclopedia Article: INFOhio, World Book Student, Rodin | Learn about the artist’s life. May need password.
Website Article: Smithsonian American Museum of Art, How Do I Research My Art? | Get tips from the experts on your family’s masterpieces.