François-Xavier FABRE (Montpellier, 1766 - 1837) Study for Helen supplicating Menelaus 1796 Pen with brown ink and black ink, white gouache highlights on prepared ochre paper 240 x 190 mm Provenance: Albert Finot, his mark lower left, Lugt 3627 Note: This unpublished drawing is preparatory to the painting commissioned by Joseph Allen Smith in 1796. Two closely related subjects, Ajax & Cassandra and Helen at the Feet of Menelaus, were chosen by this American enthusiast, but it is not known whether they were delivered to the commissioner. Only two preparatory drawings are known to exist and are kept at the Musée Fabre.

Composed of several subsidiaries, the Drouot Group is a major player in the art market. Hôtel Drouot, located in the heart of Paris, has been the world's largest public auction center since 1852. 15 salerooms are available to more than 70 auction houses. The emulation generated by an annual offer of 230,000 artworks from 21 major specialities - from Antiquity to street art - attracts some 3,000 visitors every day. The Group's digital platform, Drouot.com, offers digital sales - Live auctions (live broadcasting and participation in auctions), Online-only auctions (dematerialised auctions) and Buy Now sales (sales of lots at fixed prices). Nearly 2 million items are offered annually by 600 auction houses. Auction news is reported every week in La Gazette Drouot, the leading weekly magazine for the art market and culture published by Auctionspress.