PARIS.- The annual Master Sculpture Sale, held on Friday, November 22, and Monday, November 25, 2024, has written a new chapter in the history of Sotheby’s Paris. As the last auction conducted at the iconic 76 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, this event carried significant emotional weight for collectors and Sotheby’s team members alike. Featuring prestigious provenances and major rediscoveries, the sale achieved an impressive total of €3,140,800. Highlights included a rare medieval masterpiece and a neoclassical marble acquired by the Musée du Louvre.
A Medieval Masterpiece: Limoges Processional Cross
Among the standout pieces was Lot 5, a Limoges processional cross crafted between 1195 and 1215 using gilt copper and champlevé enamel. Comparable to treasures exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Walters Art Gallery in Baltimore, this cross dazzled collectors with its rarity and pristine condition. Regarded as one of the finest surviving examples of Limoges crosses, it achieved €432,000, far surpassing its initial estimate. The cross’s elaborate design and exceptional state of preservation underscore the brilliance of Romanesque metalwork.
Rediscoveries and Prestigious Provenances
The sale featured numerous significant rediscoveries:
• Lot 48 and Lot 49: Two monumental bronze sculptures of hunting dogs by Auguste-Nicolas Caïn sold for €81,600 and €174,000, respectively. These works, commissioned by banker and politician Jacques Stern to adorn his Fitz-James estate, had not been displayed for generations. Their remarkable size and provenance highlight the 19th-century French elite’s fascination with hunting and Caïn’s mastery as an animalier sculptor.
• Lot 51: Alfred Boucher’s marble sculpture Jeune fille assise de dos achieved €156,000. This intimate and sensual work showcases Boucher’s skill in rendering feminine forms. Featured in Jean Piette’s catalog raisonné on the artist, the piece had remained in a private family collection for generations, adding to its allure.
A Neoclassical Marble Joins Louvre Collections
The Musée du Louvre enriched its collection with Lot 46, Narcisse se mirant dans l’eau by Pierre-Nicolas Beauvallet, acquired for €144,000. Commissioned by the French state in 1812 and presented to Louis XVIII’s Duke of Caylus, this life-size marble exemplifies neoclassical elegance and exceptional craftsmanship. Detailed naturalistic elements, such as a sculpted frog amid vegetation, blend seamlessly with the mythological theme. This acquisition reunites Narcisse with its counterpart, Suzanne au bain, after more than two centuries.
Neoclassical Panels by Aubert Parent: A Historic Rediscovery
Another highlight was Lot 37, three limewood reliefs by Aubert Parent, which fetched €144,000. Depicting Spring, Summer, and Autumn, these works demonstrate Parent’s technical brilliance and neoclassical refinement. Commissioned by Basel banker Johann Rudolf Forcart between 1811 and 1814, the panels had remained in the family’s possession for nearly two centuries before entering the private market. Their intricate detailing and historical provenance emphasize their cultural and artistic significance.
A Fitting Finale
Sotheby’s Paris closed this chapter at its historic venue with a sale that celebrated artistic excellence and significant rediscoveries. From medieval treasures to neoclassical masterpieces, the auction reaffirmed the enduring appeal of timeless art, leaving collectors and institutions enriched by their acquisitions.
