“Eternal Springtime,” Auguste Rodin (1840–1917), conceived in 1884 and carved in 1901–02 from a single block of marble, sold for $20.4 million (auction record for the artist).

NEW YORK CITY — Sotheby’s sale of Impressionist and Modern art kicked off on May 9, led by masterpieces from the turn of the Twentieth Century. A new auction record for the artist was achieved as Auguste Rodin’s “Eternal Springtime,” conceived in 1884 and carved in 1901-03, sold for $20.4 million, driven by inspired competitive and international bidding. It was the first time a marble of this subject has come to auction in more than two decades.

Rodin carved the celebrated form a single block of marble, and it ranks among his most skillful renderings of embracing lovers. It came to auction with an estimate of $8/12 million. This sculpture is believed to be the fifth of ten known uniquely finished marble carvings of the subject, and was singled out in Frederick Lawton’s 1906 biography on the artist as the most magnificent of the series.

Other top highlights from the evening sale include Maurice de Vlaminck’s Fauve landscape “Sous-bois,” which brought $16.4 million and Paul Signac’s pointillist “View of Saint-Tropez,” which realized $10.7 million.

Sotheby’s Impressionist and Modern art evening auction totaled $144.5 million.

Watch for more coverage of the ongoing art sales in New York City this week.