Lost Renoir Masterpiece Fetches Millions at Paris Auction
A previously unknown painting by the celebrated French impressionist Pierre-Auguste Renoir has sold for a staggering 1.8 million euros at a Paris auction. The work, titled 'L'enfant et ses jouets – Gabrielle et le fils de l'artiste, Jean' (The Child and His Toys – Gabrielle and the artist's son, Jean), had remained out of the public eye for over a century, never having been exhibited or sold before.
The Story Behind the Canvas
The oil painting, believed to have been created between 1890 and 1895, features Renoir's second son, Jean, who would later find fame as an Oscar-winning film director. He is depicted sitting with his nanny, Gabrielle. The artwork originally belonged to Jean's godmother, Jeanne Baudot, a close friend and student of Renoir, who passed it down through her family.
Presenting the canvas, art historian and Renoir expert Pascal Perrin highlighted the "exceptional condition of the work, which has undergone no restoration". This pristine state, combined with its fascinating provenance, contributed to the final sale price, which exceeded its pre-auction valuation of 1 to 1.5 million euros.
A Legacy of Art and Cinema
The painting's subject, Jean Renoir, born in 1894, carved out his own legendary career in cinema. He was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Academy Award in 1975, several years before his death at the age of 84. Among his most revered works is the 1930s classic La Grande Illusion, a poignant story of French prisoners of war during the First World War.
Revival in the High-End Art Market
This significant sale signals a robust revival in the high-end art market, which has experienced a dip in recent years. It follows a series of record-breaking auctions, including the sale of a Frida Kahlo self-portrait for $54.66m—a record for a work by a female artist—and a Gustav Klimt painting that fetched an astonishing $236.4m just days prior. The Renoir was acquired by an anonymous international buyer, as confirmed by the auction house Drouot.
