A painting by 17th-century French master Laurent de La Hyre, described as a "treasure of French painting," has been sold for €638,560 (approximately $695,000) to an anonymous French buyer at an auction in Orléans on Saturday, November 15. The artwork had been missing from public view for approximately 400 years before its recent rediscovery.
The remarkable sale took place in Orléans, where bidders competed for the chance to own this extraordinary piece of French artistic heritage. The winning bidder, who chose to remain anonymous, successfully acquired the painting after what auction experts described as intense bidding for the long-lost masterpiece.
Laurent de La Hyre, born in 1606, was one of the most important French painters of the 17th century and a founding member of the French Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture. His works are characterized by their classical style and religious or mythological themes, making this rediscovered painting particularly significant for art historians and collectors alike.
The painting's four-century absence from the art world has added considerable intrigue to its sale. Art experts believe the work disappeared into private collections or was lost during various historical upheavals in France, only to resurface recently and be authenticated as a genuine work by the master painter.
The successful sale demonstrates the continued strong market demand for French Old Master paintings, particularly those with such extraordinary provenance stories. The anonymous buyer's decision to keep their identity private is common in high-value art transactions, where collectors often prefer discretion when acquiring significant cultural artifacts.
