Rodin's Walking Man strides into gallery

Melbourne businessman David Bardas has given a valuable bronze by sculpture master Auguste Rodin to the National Gallery of Victoria.

The Walking Man was conceived by Rodin in about 1900 and the donated sculpture was cast by the Georges Rudier Foundry in Paris in 1964.

Rodin is generally regarded as the founder of modern sculpture and the design is his first and most recognised in the non-finito style, which represents the human body as unfinished.

It will be treated with great care by the gallery's staff - but it used to be a garden sculpture, installed in the Bardas family's garden since 1977.

"It is part of our sense of home. A meaningful piece from our collection, we are delighted to share him now with all of Melbourne and the greater art world," Mr Bardas said.

He was formerly the chief executive of clothing chain Sportsgirl but later turned to philanthropy and playwriting.

The gift was also made on behalf of Mr Bardas's late wife Sandra. The couple began collecting art in the early 1960s.

The Walking Man is one of Rodin's most enduring and impactful images, according to senior curator Ted Gott.

"Its appeal lies in its universality and it is impossible to think of an exhibition of Rodin's work that does not include walking man," he said.

The gallery already has eight Rodin sculptures, including the first bronze cast of The Thinker, from 1881-1882.

The sculpture has been put on display at NGV International.