CENTAURE LE
WHEN MYTH TAKES SHAPE
Paris • Auction on June 5, 2025
Millon Auction Group (MAG) is pleased to present Le Centaure by César Baldaccini, a major testamentary sculpture by the artist, which will be offered for sale during the “So Unique” auction on June 5, 2025, at The Corner, 1 rue Rossini in Paris, 9th arrondissement.
Rediscovered thanks to MILLON Benelux, this work, from the collection of a close friend of the artist, will be part of an exclusive and dynamic exhibition tour conceived by MAG. This journey, passing through Brussels, Nice, and Milan where this masterpiece is unveiled to the European public ahead of its auction appearance, culminates in Paris.
Blending archaic power and inner tension, Le Centaure is much more than a sculpture: it is a metaphorical self-portrait, a vibrant tribute to Picasso, a powerful statement. Through this mythological figure, César combines his mastery of material with a reflection on the identity of the artist, giving the sculpture a timeless and commemorative dimension.
A rare, totemic, and intimate work, Le Centaure reflects the soul of a master who made bronze his language and myth his signature. With this creation, César reaches the fully realized form of immortality.
ALEXANDRE MILLON President
Millon Auction Group
César and Me,
From a chance encounter, a true friendship was born. This led to warm weekends at our home and fascinating stays at his place with his wife Rosine and other artists. César was a welcoming, cheerful man, a lively spirit who loved being surrounded by friends and was deeply passionate about his art! Each time I visited his studio in Paris, on rue Roger, I found that same atmosphere— a jumble of objects of all kinds, a unique ambiance, and big shared tables where he would personally cook us pasta, one of his favorite dishes.
R.D.P.
GENESIS OF AN ICONIC WORK
Between triBute and artistic Lineage
This bronze sculpture, far more than a mere symbolic portrait, embodies both artistic lineage and heartfelt homage. Its angular, fragmented forms assert a raw expressiveness, capturing at once the vitality of the artist and the archaic strength of his vision. The face of the centaur wears a mask bearing the features of Picasso — a direct tribute to the master, placing César within the same artistic lineage.
This movable mask creates a tangible link between the two artists, bringing them together within a shared universe while affirming the individuality of each. Le Centaure is not just a tribute: it marks a pivotal moment in César’s evolution, where mythology, artistic reflection, and the pursuit of perfection converge. It is a powerful testament to the artist’s commitment — a silent dialogue between two great visions, between history and modernity, between the force of material and the search for the invisible.
a new MythoLogy
Centaurs, hybrid figures of Greco-Roman mythology, embody the fusion of instinct and intellect, of raw strength and artistic creation. This choice is far from incidental. César’s Centaur does more than reference classical mythology — it belongs to a long tradition of mythological reinterpretation by modern artists.
The work evokes not only the centaurs sculpted on the metopes of the Parthenon but also more contemporary figures: Picasso’s minotaurs, Jean Arp’s biomorphic forms, and the hybrid creatures of François-Xavier Lalanne. Yet César’s uniqueness lies in his ability to redefine this traditional genre through a radically modern aesthetic and a deeply personal approach to sculpture.
a syMBoLic douBLe
The Centaur becomes both a symbolic self-portrait and a meditation on the human condition. Half-man, half-animal, it embodies the fundamental duality of the artist, torn between wild nature and civilization, between instinctive force and intellect. Through this sculpture, César delves into his own creative tensions: tradition and experimentation, classicism and radicalism. The work thus becomes a talisman, a symbolic double that accompanied him throughout his career.
He once said of it: “It’s my favorite work, and I keep a bronze model of it by my bed, a faithful companion that shares the most intimate moments of my life.” This deep and personal attachment to the piece reflects the central place it held in his artistic imagination.
a scuLpture for eternity
The Centaur reveals its full emotional and symbolic weight through the installation of one of its versions on the artist’s grave in the Montparnasse Cemetery. At his explicit request, this sculpture now stands watch over his resting place, crystallizing the profound importance it held for him throughout his life. César himself explained: “The Centaur is the completed but painful result of a long process […] Through this sculpture, I sought to achieve perfection as a form of immortality.” The presence of this work on his grave bears witness to the artist’s tireless quest to fix in matter a form he believed capable of surviving his own mortality.
The monumental version of The Centaur, meanwhile, stands in Place Michel-Debré in Paris. It stands as a lasting tribute to César’s creative power. This large-scale sculpture required several years of work, constant reevaluation, and transformation. The artist emphasized the complexity of its creation: “It took me three years to make and unmake every part of the Centaur.” This laborious process, marked by doubt and inspiration, illustrates the depth of César’s commitment to this work. It also becomes a symbol of his desire to confront his art with public space — and to grant his creation a lasting presence, etched into the landscape of the Capital.
MAG LOCATIONS
In keeping with its commitment to showcasing major works of art, the MAG Group has launched a traveling exhibition program across its various international locations. For the sculpture Le Centaure, a true “Grand Tour” has been organized, with stops in Brussels, Nice, Milan, and finally Paris, where the piece will be auctioned. This project reflects the Group’s dynamic and cross-disciplinary approach, capable of bringing artworks into the spotlight and building a cultural promotion journey around them on a European scale.
Exhibitions
April 29, 30
11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
May 5-7
11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
May 13-15
10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
May 20-25
10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
2:00 PM – 6:00 PM
June 2-4
11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
MILLON BENELUX
Rue Blaes, 30-32/1000 Bruxelles
+32 (0) 456 07 11 40 benelux@millon.com
MILLON RIVIERA
51 rue Beaumont, 06300 Nice
+32 (0) 4 93 62 37 75 contact@millon-riviera.com
IL PONTE CASA D’ASTE
Via Pontaccio, 12, 20121 Milan
+39 (02) 863141 info@ponteonline.com
MILLON PARIS
Le Corner, 1 rue Rossini, 75009 Paris
+33 (0) 1 87 03 04 71 artcontemporain@millon.com
a “so unique” auction
In order to ensure Le Centaure receives the highest visibility and best possible result, the work will be presented as part of a “So Unique” auction.
Launched in 2020, this concept allows MAG to fully exercise its role as an international leader, creating unique opportunities to showcase exceptional artworks. Each edition sets the stage for new records — such as the painting by Domenico Gnoli, which soared to €6.6 million in 2021. A platform worthy of works that transcend time.
technicaL detaiLs
CÉSAR BALDACCINI (1921-1998)
Le Centaure, Hommage à Picasso, 1983-1987
Bronze with brown patina, signed on the base, numbered 3/8, and bearing the foundry mark “Bocquel” on the back of the base. Dimensions: 101 x 105 x 48.5 cm
Provenance:
Private collection, Belgium
Bibliography:
Pierre Restany, César, 1988, pp. 297–299, one example reproduced in color
J.-C. Hachet, César ou les métamorphoses d’un grand art, Paris, 1989, No. 165, p. 80, one example reproduced in color
César, les Bronzes, exhibition catalog, Musée Paul Valéry, Sète, 1991, one example reproduced
César, in Connaissance des Arts, special issue, Marseille, July 1993, p. 35, one example reproduced in color
Galerie Enrico Navarra, César, Paris, 1996, pp. 68–69, two examples reproduced
This work is listed in the archives of Madame Denyse Durand-Ruel under No. 3243.
A certificate of authenticity, signed by the artist, will be provided to the buyer.
Estimate: € 200,000 – 250,000
d’Argence
Adrien Serien Contact département aserien@millon.com +33 (0)1 87 03 04 72 ART CONTEMPORAIN
+33 (0)1 87 03 04 72 contacts
Brune Dumoncel d’Argence
BRUNE DUMONCEL D’ARGENCE
Spécialiste
Post-War & Contemporary Art Department Director bdumoncel@millon.com
bdumoncel@millon.com
+33 (0)1 87 03 04 71
+33 (0)1 87 03 04 71
ADRIEN SERIEN
Post-War & Contemporary Art Specialist aserien@millon.com
téléphone, rapports de condition, et rendez-vous, contactez :
CONDITIONS DE VENTES
FRAIS À LA CHARGE DE L’ADJUDICATAIRE
Adrien Serien
Contact département
aserien@millon.com
+33 (0)1 87 03 04 72
For absentee bids, telephone bidding, condition reports, and appointments, please contact: artcontemporain@millon.com
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CHARGE DE L’ADJUDICATAIRE
Post-War & ContemPorary art DePartment SALE CONDITIONS
L’Adjudicataire paiera à Millon, en sus du Prix d’Adjudication, une Commission d’Adjudication égale à un pourcentage du Prix d’Adjudication dégressive par tranche définit comme suit :
• 25 % HT (soit 30 % TTC*) entre 3.501 € et 500.000 € ;
l’Adjudication, indépendamment de sa volonté de sortir son Lot du territoire français.
L’Adjudicataire doit s’acquitter personnellement du Prix de Vente et notamment, en cas de paiement depuis compte bancaire, être titulaire de ce Pour tout règlement de facture d’un montant supérieur à 10.000 €, l’origine des fonds sera réclamée à l’Adjudicataire conformément
Sauf pour :
INFORMATIONS ET GARANTIES
L’Adjudicataire paiera à Millon, en sus d’Adjudication, une Commission d’Adjudication égale à un pourcentage du Prix d’Adjudication dégressive par tranche définit : (soit 30 % TTC*) entre 3.501 € et ; l’Adjudication, indépendamment de sa volonté de sortir son Lot du territoire français. L’Adjudicataire doit s’acquitter personnellement du Prix de Vente et notamment, en cas de paiement depuis un compte bancaire, être titulaire de ce compte. Pour tout règlement de facture d’un montant supérieur à 10.000 €, l’origine des fonds sera réclamée à l’Adjudicataire conformément à l’article
Tous les Lots sont vendus dans l’état où ils se trouvent au moment de leur Adjudication, avec leurs potentiels défauts et imperfections. Le fait que la description ne comporte pas d’information particulière sur l’état d’un Lot ne signifie pas que ce Lot est exempt de défauts ou d’imperfections. Les informations figurant au Catalogue sont renseignées
• La tranche inférieure à 3.500 € : 27,5 % HT (soit 33% TTC*) ;
Puis dégressivité comme suit :
• 20,83 % HT (soit 25% TTC*) entre 500.001 € à 1.500.000 € ;
• 16,66 % HT (soit 20% TTC*) sur la tranche supérieure à 1.500.001 €. En outre, la Commission d’Adjudication est
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