A remarkable 17th-century painting that vanished from art historical records for nearly four centuries has been rediscovered in a Loire Valley castle and is set to go up for auction. "The Banquet of the Lapiths," created by renowned French Baroque painter Laurent de La Hyre in 1620, was found during an inventory at the Château de Villebourgeon in Neung-sur-Beuvron, Loir-et-Cher. The massive work, measuring over 6 feet high by nearly 9 feet wide, will be sold at auction on Saturday, November 15, at the Orléans Madeleine auction house.
The painting's journey through time reads like a mystery novel, with two major disappearances spanning centuries. "This is truly a rediscovery of the artist, a rediscovery of the attribution of this work," said Cécile Solibieda, an associate at the Orléans Madeleine auction house organizing Saturday's sale. The last documented mention of the painting was in 1656, when it appeared in the inventory following the artist's death. After that date, the work completely vanished from all artistic records and catalogs.
The painting remained lost for approximately 200 years before mysteriously reappearing in the Sologne region when the owners of Château de Villebourgeon took residence there in 1860. However, even then, the masterpiece didn't receive proper recognition. It hung in the castle's grand staircase, poorly lit and difficult to view properly. "The painting was sleeping in the castle. It was installed in a very large staircase cage, so you couldn't see it well," Solibieda explained. "You have to imagine a 17th-century staircase with two large flights of steps and an intermediate landing."
The awkward positioning meant viewers were either standing too far away at about 15 feet distance or had their noses practically pressed against it, with only a side window providing lateral lighting. For decades, the castle's residents passed by the painting daily without paying much attention to it. It wasn't until 2023, during a comprehensive inventory of the castle's contents, that the enormous canvas was finally taken down and properly examined, leading to its dramatic rediscovery and attribution.
The painting depicts a violent scene from Greek mythology known as the Battle of the Lapiths and Centaurs. "It's a very large painting in which you can get lost given the quantity of details," Solibieda analyzed. The work illustrates the mythological story of a wedding banquet for the daughter of the Lapiths, where their centaur cousins became violent due to inheritance disputes and excessive drinking. The scene captures the chaos and brutality that ensued during what should have been a celebration.
What makes this discovery particularly significant is how dramatically different the work is from La Hyre's known oeuvre. "We know him through his later productions, where the paintings are very structured. Here, on the contrary, we have something very dynamic and turbulent," Solibieda noted. "Is this the painting of a young and fiery artist who later calmed down as he matured?" This early work showcases a more passionate, unrestrained style that contrasts sharply with the composed, classical approach La Hyre became famous for in his later career.
The rediscovered masterpiece is estimated to sell for between 500,000 and 700,000 euros (approximately $540,000 to $760,000). It will be featured alongside numerous other paintings, art objects, and furniture pieces from the Château de Villebourgeon in Saturday's auction. The sale represents a significant opportunity for collectors and museums to acquire pieces with remarkable provenance and historical significance.
To commemorate this extraordinary discovery, a special conference was organized for Friday evening at 7 PM at the Orléans Madeleine auction house. Vladimir Nestorov, a specialist in 17th-century painting, presented detailed analysis of the work, discussing its artistic significance, historical context, and the remarkable story of its rediscovery. The event provided art enthusiasts and potential bidders with expert insights into this exceptional find that has emerged from centuries of obscurity.
