Entre Ciel & Terre: Masterpieces from a French Collection at Artcurial
On April 30th, Artcurial will present a prestigious auction dedicated to an important collection of Old Masters and 19th-century paintings: Entre Ciel & Terre: Masterpieces from a French Collection. This remarkable collection, assembled by a passionate couple in the early 2000s, primarily focuses on works from the 15th and 16th centuries in the Netherlands, 17th-century Flanders, as well as early 20th-century Breton paintings.
Pieter Brueghel le Jeune (1564-1636)
La moisson, Allégorie de l’Eté
Estimation : 1 000 000 – 1 500 000 €
Guided by a fascination for nature in all its forms and a deep curiosity for religious themes marking the turning point between the 15th and 16th centuries, this collection is distinguished by precise yet ambitious choices.
Among the forty works offered, there are no fewer than four oil paintings on panels by Pieter Brueghel II, including the famous scenes The Harvest, The Preaching of Saint John the Baptist, and The Wedding Procession – all signed. Two copper plates by Jan Brueghel I also enrich this ensemble, highlighting the grandeur of the most famous dynasty of Flemish painters.
Frans Snyders (1579-1657)
Plat de fruits sur une chaise entourée d’un perroquet, d’un singe et d’un chien
Estimation : 300 000 – 400 000 €
The collection also includes significant 16th-century works: a striking Portrait of Odet de Coligny, Cardinal of Châtillon by Corneille de Lyon, and two signed and dated miniatures on vellum by Hans Bol, masterpieces by this exceptional painter and draughtsman. Among the Flemish artists of the 17th century, we find David Teniers, Sebastian Vrancx, and Frans Snyders, the latter represented by a fascinating composition featuring a parrot, a monkey, a dog, and a plate of grapes.
Vrancke van der Stockt (1424-1495) et atelier
Triptyque recomposé
Panneau central : La Descente de Croix, Panneau latéral gauche : L’Empereur Auguste et la sybille de Tibure (recto) et La découverte de la Vraie Croix par Sainte Hélène (verso) Panneau latéral droit : La vision des rois mages (recto) et Héraclios rapporte la Vraie Croix à Jérusalem après son vol par les Perses (verso)
Estimation : 1 200 000 – 1 800 000 €
The oldest works in the collection are particularly remarkable and rare: The Virgin and Child Surrounded by Angel Musicians by the Master of the Legend of Saint Lucy offers a striking view of Bruges at the end of the 15th century, while The Marriage of the Virgin and Christ Among the Doctors by the Master of the Princes’ Portraits reveal an extraordinary mastery of perspective through captivating church interiors. Two panels depicting Saint Cecilia and Saint Margaret further illustrate the talent of the Master of Alkmaar.
One of the highlights of the collection is the triptych by Vrancke van der Stockt, which once belonged to the royal collection of Charles II of Bourbon-Parma, King of Etruria. The five scenes that comprise it reveal a perfect balance between refinement and expressive power.
Henry Moret (1856-1913)
Roches de Pern à Ouessant, 1903
Estimation : 80 000 – 120 000 €
Finally, the last section of the sale pays tribute to Brittany with works by Henry Moret, Paul Sérusier, Jules Noël, and Émile Jourdan, vibrant witnesses to a rich artistic heritage.
Information
Auction
Entre Ciel & Terre : Chefs-d’œuvre d’une collection française
30 April 2025 - 2:30pm
Contact
Léa Pailler
+33 1 42 99 16 50