A mythological figure, a symbolic self-portrait, a tribute to Picasso.
Le Centaure, the monumental and testamentary sculpture by César Baldaccini, will be the highlight of the “So Unique” auction organised by the Millon Auction Group on 5 June 2025, at their historic headquarters on rue Rossini in Paris.
The result of a long and passionate labour, Le Centaure is one of the most intimate and powerful works by the renowned French sculptor. The removable mask, modelled on Picasso’s features, forges a direct connection between these two 20th-century giants, merging them into a shared universe while still affirming their distinct identities.
Le Centaure is not merely a tribute: it marks a pivotal moment in César’s artistic journey, where mythology, artistic reflection, and the pursuit of perfection intertwine. “It’s my fetish piece,” César once confessed, keeping a bronze version of it beside his bed—an unobtrusive companion throughout a life devoted to material. He also said: “It’s my monument, my portrait, my testament.”
The work accompanied César to the end of his life: one version now watches over his grave in Montparnasse Cemetery, while a monumental example dominates Place Michel-Debré, becoming an integral part of the Parisian urban landscape. A piece that took three years of work, experiments, and revisions, it now embodies the very essence of his poetics: archaic strength, radical modernity, and human tension.
To celebrate this masterpiece, the Millon Auction Group has curated a "Grand Tour" exhibition, showcasing the sculpture across the Group’s international venues and inviting European audiences into dialogue with the work—from Brussels to Nice, from Milan to Paris. This journey not only narrates the story of the piece but also reveals the cultural and curatorial vision of a Group capable of uniting markets and sensibilities, transforming each auction into a moment of storytelling and artistic appreciation.
The journey culminates in the “So Unique” auction, a format that over the years has cemented the Group’s international standing, setting memorable records—such as the € 6.6 million sale of a work by Domenico Gnoli. It is within this exclusive and highly selective context that Le Centaure (€ 200,000 - 250,000) will be offered to collectors: a piece that transcends eras, schools, and genres to speak a timeless language.
A sculpture for eternity, a myth to rediscover, an event not to be missed.
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.
Estimate € 200,000 - 250,000
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