A rediscovered still life painting by French Baroque master Lubin Baugin has achieved a remarkable triumph at auction, setting a new record for the artist's work. The painting "Nature morte aux financiers" (Still Life with Financiers) was sold for €550,000 at Vichy Enchères, reaching double its estimated price and remaining in private hands after the sale.
The artwork, which emerged from an estate collection, represents a significant milestone in the art market for Baugin's works. Prior to this sale, the highest auction price for a Baugin painting was approximately €300,000, achieved by his religious work "Olinde and Sophronie sur le bucher" at Sotheby's New York in 2016. The new record nearly doubles that previous benchmark, demonstrating the continued appreciation for the French Baroque painter's rare works.
Baugin's market performance has shown consistent strength in recent years. In 2023, his painting "Adam et Eve pleurant Abel" reached a comparable result at auction in Toulouse. However, that particular work was acquired by the Louvre Museum, which exercised its right of first refusal to add the piece to its national collection. The museum's intervention highlighted the institutional recognition of Baugin's artistic significance.
The Louvre's decision not to pursue the "Nature morte aux financiers" may be explained by its existing collection of Baugin's work. The museum already houses the artist's "Nature morte aux gaufrettes," another still life by the same painter. This existing representation of Baugin's still life technique in the national collection likely influenced the institution's choice to allow the newly discovered work to remain in private hands.
The successful auction in Vichy represents more than just a financial milestone; it underscores the ongoing discoveries being made in estate collections across France. Such rediscoveries continue to reshape our understanding of historical artists and their market value, with previously unknown or forgotten works commanding significant attention from both private collectors and major institutions.
