Gustave Courbet – La Bohemienne et ses enfants © Christie’s Images Limited 2015 UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD
A Gustave Courbet rediscovery La Bohemienne et ses infants will highlight Christie’s New York spring sale of 19th century European art on April 28. Pressure of work in 1853-54 forced Courbet to halt work on the painting and it was housed by a neighbour in Ornans under the floorboard of the attic.
It remained there, forgotten, until 2001. It was taken then to the Courbet museum in Ornans where its authenticity was confirmed. It is estimated at $1.8-2.5 million.
This curated auction boasts a selection of paintings by Federico Zandomengeghi, Gustave Courbet, and Joaquín Sorolla y Bastida, among others as well as a strong collection of Barbizon, French Academic, Victorian, Orientalist and Maritime pieces. The sale is primarily sourced from private collections, with additions from the Art Gallery of Ontario and the Seattle Art Museum.
There is a group of seven paintings from the Art Gallery of Ontario deaccessioned to benefit further art purchases.