France

This drawing by the Surrealist artist Francis Picabia (1879-1953) had several interesting associations in its provenance.

A rare souvenir, an example of correspondence between two key figures in the French Revolution, was one of the highlights of a sale held by Osenat (25% buyer’s premium) in Versailles on March 12.

A library of works relating to hunting, horseriding and dogs assembled over a 40-year period by a hunting historian, the Comte d’Orglandes, went under the hammer on April 12 at Deloys (22% buyer’s premium inc tax) in Angers, part of the Ivoire group.

A section of period costume and textiles that featured in a general sale at Thierry de Maigret (24% buyer’s premium) on March 24 produced some notable results for several well-preserved examples of 18th century costume.

This work by Henry Fuseli (1741-1825) is a study for the figure of a kneeling figure of Caractacus’ daughter in the artist’s painting 'Caractacus’ speech before Claudius'.

François Pierre de la Varenne (1618-78) is the chef credited with bringing French cuisine into the modern era.

The first 90 or so lots in Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr’s (27.5/26/20/14.5% buyer’s premium) sale of Islamic and Indian Art held in Paris on April 6 were the property of a Royal collection.

The two-day sale of works from the French dealership Talabardon & Gautier was held at Drouot by Ader (28% buyer’s premium)

This charcoal drawing of a Normandy milkmaid is one of four works by Jean-François Millet (1814-75) to be included in Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr’s Paris sale of the collection of Alain Delon

This design for a fan leaf painted with two reclining figures of elegant women appeared in an Impressionist and Modern art sale held in Paris

This work is billed as the largest ever nude by Gustave Courbet (1819-77) to be offered at auction

A six-figure sum for Belgian Symbolist Fernand Khnopff was the top lot of Christie’s drawing-focused sale.

Also during drawing week, and on the same day and just around the corner from Christie’s, Artcurial held a related art auction.

The Drouot auction centre was also celebrating drawing week with no shortage of drawings and works on paper on offer.

Demonstrations and the bags of rubbish piled up on the Paris streets were no deterrent for visitors to the Salon du Dessin in March.

Paris works on paper events draw a line under Covid as attendance figures bounce back

A version of one of Pieter Brueghel the Younger’s (c.1564- 1638) best-known compositions, 'The Tax Collector’s Office', will be offered at auction after being discovered behind a partially hidden door in a home in northern France.