A long-lost painting by Fragonard sold for $9 million after it was found in the possession of a family who had no idea it was a work by the French master.
Antoine Petit, an auctioneer at the Encheres Champagne auction house in Epernay, said he was called to assess a family inheritance at an apartment in Marne, and a dust-covered painting hanging on the wall caught his eye.
It was found in the possession of a family who had no idea https://t.co/V2RCIbaCNF
— WLNS Newsroom (@WLNS) June 30, 2021
Petit examined the painting and found Fragonard's name written on the back in black ink, which led him to have it assessed by experts with Paris-based Cabinet Turquin.
The experts verified the painting was A Philosopher Reading by Fragonard.
Petit said the family who owned the painting, which dates from 1768-1770, told him it had been passed down through multiple generations for about 200 years, and the current owners did not know the identity of the artist.
A #Fragonard painting, lost for 200 years, has been purchased by a French collector for €7.68M in Epernay, sold by Enchères Champagne. Estimated at €1.5/2M, Jean-Honoré Fragonard's "A Philosopher Reading” had been rediscovered during an inventory of an estate in the Marne. pic.twitter.com/urrhCTb9YT
— La Gazette Drouot – International (@Gazette_Inter) June 28, 2021
The auction house said the painting sold for $9.1 million. The identity of the buyer was not released.
This article has been adapted from its original source.
