the remaining objects in the matsukata collection totaled 370 works, including 196 paintings, 80 drawings, 26 prints and 63 sculptures—including massive public statuary by rodin which now grace the landscaped area in front of the entrance to nmwa. each of the rodin sculptures in the nmwa collection were cast from the original molds. in fact, as it happens, matsukata was the one who paid for the best rodin castings in france today, but he didn't quite manage to bring them back to japan, which is how they fell into french hands at the end of world war ii. these artworks, designated as the matsukata collection, were returned by france to japan in 1959, which led to the opening of the national museum of western art .