A masterpiece by Spanish painter Francisco de Zurbarán depicting Saint Francis of Assisi is set to return to the halls of Villandry Castle by the end of December 2025, after spending 72 years away from its original home. The painting, which had been sold in 1953 by the Carvallo family who owns the château, marks a significant homecoming for one of the castle's most treasured artworks.
The artwork originally belonged to the Carvallo family, who have owned Villandry Castle since 1906. Joachim Carvallo, the great-grandfather of current owner Henri Carvallo, had established a museum as early as 1908 to display his collection of artworks, including this particular Zurbarán painting, making the château accessible to the public for visitors to enjoy these cultural treasures.
Following Joachim Carvallo's death, his extensive art collection was divided among his six children, leading to the dispersal of many valuable pieces. A major auction held in Tours on November 19, 1953, resulted in the sale of numerous paintings from the collection. As the château stated in an official announcement, "A painting that he cherished above all others, a Saint Francis by Zurbarán, was sold that day."
Seventy-two years later, the painting has been recently acquired at auction by Henri Carvallo, the current owner and great-grandson of Joachim Carvallo, bringing the artwork back to its ancestral home. This acquisition represents not just the return of a valuable artwork, but the restoration of a piece of family heritage that had been lost for decades.
Villandry Castle continues to function as what Henri Carvallo describes as "a living family residence," where family photographs and paintings are displayed throughout the various rooms of this historic venue. The château has already welcomed 340,000 visitors as of October 31st and is participating once again in the "Christmas in Château Country" event this year, demonstrating its ongoing role as both a family home and a major tourist destination in the Loire Valley region.
