The U.K. government is making efforts to keep a significant painting by 18th-century artist Jean-Antoine Watteau within the nation. “Le Rêve de L’Artiste” (1710), valued at over £6 million ($7.9 million), has been temporarily barred from export until November 29, allowing time for a domestic institution to acquire it.
Despite its French origins, this Rococo masterpiece has deep historical connections to Britain, having been acquired in 1736 by Sir Robert Walpole, the country’s first prime minister. It was displayed in his wife’s dressing room at 10 Downing Street, the official residence of the prime minister. The painting’s title translates to “The Dream of the Artist,” featuring whimsical vignettes of dancing figures, cherubs, and familiar motifs from Watteau’s work, such as the commedia dell’arte character Pierrot.
Watteau was renowned across Europe for his charming fête galante paintings, which celebrated pastoral pleasures and served as a final tribute to France’s ancien régime before the aristocracy faced the guillotine. “Le Rêve” stands out in Watteau's body of work, offering a meta-exploration of how these dreamlike scenes came to be.
“This beautiful, enigmatic painting showcases Watteau’s extraordinary originality and provides one of Western art’s earliest and most profound representations of artistic creativity,” remarked Mark Hallett, an art historian who advised the U.K. government on the painting. “It offers fascinating insights into Watteau’s thoughts as a painter and broader 18th-century concepts of inspiration and imagination.”
Hallett emphasized the need for further research and appreciation of the work, asserting that it deserves to be retained for the nation. The decision to withhold the export license for “Le Rêve” was made by U.K. Arts Minister Chris Bryant, following recommendations from the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of National Interest. The painting was recognized for its outstanding significance to the study of collections and its unique portrayal of dream imagery.
Bryant noted that the work provides insights into 18th-century British art and culture, stating, “It portrays the artist’s dream, but perhaps its surreal fantasia inspired political dreams as well. Either way, it is an important and unusual work by a genius.”
At the end of the initial deferral period on November 29, the owners will consider any purchase offers at the recommended price. The Department of Culture, Media, and Sport indicated that the export bar could be extended for an additional six months if there is serious interest in acquiring the painting. Recently, the U.K. also barred the export of two notebooks belonging to the legendary mathematician and computer scientist Alan Turing, giving domestic buyers until November 15 to raise the necessary £397,680 ($516,000) for the artifacts.
Earlier this year, the U.K. temporarily blocked the export of a rare 12th-century ivory statue, “Deposition from the Cross” (ca. 1190-1200), which had been sold by Sotheby’s to the Met in New York for over $2.5 million. The item had previously been on long-term loan to the V&A from 1982 to 2022, and this summer, the museum announced its successful acquisition.
“I am thrilled that the V&A has been able to save this elemental object of English art for the nation,” said Tristram Hunt, the V&A’s director. “In this small, sublime carving is captured a lost story of Christian culture, Romanesque design, and medieval craftsmanship.”
Sayart / Amia Nguyen, amyngwyen13@gmail.com
