I found this excerpt in a book that does not mention the source. It is kinda important for me because I need to quote it at an important conference next week. I can't say it's quoted in this article because it's part of this book called "100 Great Modern Lives", which isn't like proper articles.
"Why should I clothe M. Hugo in the ridiculous masculine fashions of our time? There is nothing more banal than those statues of recent notabilities masquerading as tailor's dummies of their ugly period. On the other hand man's naked form belongs to no particular moment in history; it is eternal and can be looked upon with joy by the people of all ages".
It was about his 1886 statue of Victor Hugo. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you!
PS: I just looked up the author of this article. He died around the time I was born, so I pretty much can't contact him.
It's in Anthony Mario Ludovici's Personal Reminiscences of Auguste Rodin.
The article's version of the quote isn't exact. One of the things that helps in cases like this is to pick out one or two pretty special words and just search for those ("auguste rodin notabilities" was what I used, figuring that it would also give me results if the quote were in French).
In this case, the actual quote is on Wikiquote! :D