Works on paper take centre stage at Drouot
Millon – Drawings from 1500 to 1900
27 March
Another standout was a preparatory study by Delacroix for Greece on the Ruins of Missolonghi, executed in ink on paper. Formerly part of the Henri Bénézit collection, this early sketch illustrates the artist’s initial thoughts on the allegorical subject of the Ottoman siege.
A precious insight into his creative process, the drawing was pre-empted by the Musées de France for €37,805 (lot 166).
Ader – Old and Modern Drawings
28 March
The following day, auction house Ader presented an equally fine selection of drawings, led by Composition with Open Hand, 1960, by Le Corbusier, which more than doubled its high estimate, selling for €59,800 (lot 232).
A dramatic bidding battle saw Erotic Scene and Man’s Back, 1928, an ink on paper by Pavel Tchelitchew, soar far beyond its €6,000–8,000 estimate to reach €54,600 (lot 168).
Finally, the sale took to the open sea with Les Voiliers, a delicate watercolour over pencil by Paul Signac, which fetched €28,600 (lot 162 – est. €10,000–12,000).
Daguerre – A Curated Selection
28 March
That same day, auction house Daguerre presented a superb Danaë Receiving the Golden Rain, formerly part of the Prince de Lucinge’s collection. This elegant nude, appearing on the market for the first time since 1900, achieved €48,100 (lot 34).
Brunel Dejean de la Bâtie – Paintings, Furniture and Works of Art
1 April
April began with a strong result of €117,000 for the very first lot of the sale by Brunel Dejean de la Bâtie. Attributed to Parmigianino, master of the Renaissance, the Presumed Portrait of Sebastiano Corradi, in Left Profile came from the collection of the historian Emmanuel Le Roy Ladurie (lot 69).
Also from the same collection, a Study for the Martyrdom of Saint Jude by Il Poccetti tripled its high estimate, climbing to €97,500 (lot 70). This preparatory drawing depicts the assailant of Saint Jude, who features at the centre of Poccetti’s composition for a fresco in San Pier Maggiore in Florence, executed between 1585 and 1590.
Kâ-Mondo – Old and Modern Drawings
4 April
Finally, Kâ-Mondo brought the last touches to this remarkable series of sales, with two brown ink drawings by Domenico Tiepolo. Trained by his father, he retained the luminous, vivid style typical of the great Venetian masters of the Renaissance.
The swirling God the Father and the Holy Spirit in a Cloud of Angels sold for €34,925 (lot 2), while Prophet and an Angel achieved €17,780 (lot 3).
A Week Marked by Two Major Events
Beyond the many auctions, the Hôtel Drouot hosted two events showcasing this season’s highlights, drawing no fewer than 13,500 art enthusiasts.
Œuvres Choisies
This was the first 2025 edition of the now well-established format that brings together, three times a year, a curated selection of upcoming lots. Held in the iconic Room 9, the display ran from 20 to 29 March.
Trait & Feuille
From 25 to 29 March, Drouot’s entrance hall was transformed by Trait & Feuille, an installation conceived by Judith Touitou, Artistic Director of the fashion label A.P.C., in collaboration with floral artist Debeaulieu. Blending the elegance of drawing with poetic floral design, it featured a selection of standout drawings from this season’s sales.
