The 18th century reigns supreme at Sotheby's France Total: EUR6.2 million

Press release Paris

| 33 (0)1 53 05 53 66 | Sophie Dufresne | sophie.dufresne@sothebys.com

| 33 (0)1 53 05 52 32 | Claire Jehl | claire.jehl@sothebys.com

Pair of paintings by Charles-Joseph Natoire Commissioned by Louis XV for the Château de Fontainebleau:

€427,500

Pair of gilt-bronze Louis XVI wall-lights with young fauns in gilt bronze from the Petit Appartement of King Louis XVI: €331,500

Pair of Louis XVI chased gilt-bronze firedogs created for Madame Elisabeth at Versailles: €112,500 - Pre-empted by the Château de Versailles

Registration no. 2001 - 002 of 25 October 2001

Sale conducted by Cecile Verdier, Olivier Valmier, Pierre Mothes

Paris, 15 September 2017 - Sotheby's opened the Paris season with three outstanding collections dedicated to 18th century furniture, works of art and paintings: From the Collection of Prince Marc de Beauvau-Craon, Timeless Elegance and Paris-Rome. With an overall total of €6.2 million, these three sales, which largely exceeded their high estimates, inaugurated the new salesroom of Sotheby's Paris in splendid style.

From the collection of Prince Marc de Beauvau-Craon

The works from Prince Marc de Beauvau-Craon's collection bore witness to some of the history of this French dynasty. The success it obtained this evening was a tribute to this great patron of the arts: the husband of Laure, Président-directeur général of Sotheby's Paris from 1991 to 2003.

The highest prices of the sale went to an imposing bronze of Louis XIV on horseback after a model by Etienne Le Hongre (1628-1690), standing on a magnificent ebony and gilt bronze base from the Louis XIV period. Bidding was competitive, and went all the way up to €87,500 (lot 47). The portrait of Grace King Connelly, Prince Marc de Beauvau-Craon's grandmother, painted by Giovanni Boldini, made twice its high estimate at €75,000 (lot 13). Lastly, a fine pair of candelabra, after models by Falconet, from the end of the Louis XVI period (late 18th/early 19th century), fetched €47,500 (lot 42).

Timeless Elegance

Over several decades, the collection displayed in an elegant apartment on the Rive Gauche brought together many refined works, including a pair of Louis XVI gilt-bronze wall-lights with young fauns, which garnered the highest price of the sale: €331,500 (lot 89).

This elegant collection contained numerous mounted porcelains, like this pair of gilt-bronze Chinese celadon longevity peaches, Qianlong period, circa 1765-1770, which at €85,000 doubled its high estimate (lot 44). A large gilt-bronze mounted Chinese blue powder porcelain marked with the crowned C, circa 1740-45, was in line with its estimate, €162,500 (lot 71).

The collection also included a fine group of delicately shaded watercolours by Carmontelle, consisting of portraits and panoramic landscapes. The 14 lots for sale all found buyers, making a total of €441,000. The two most sought-after were a portrait of Madame de Lacombe jouant au trou-madame avec son fils, sold for €81,250 (lot 37), and a self-portrait of the artist, which went all the way up to €75,000 (lot 16).

Paris-Rome

Built up by a family of Italian aesthetes, the collection entitled Paris-Rome highlighted the artistic links uniting France and Italy. The catalogue included iconic artists from Italy's most glittering periods.

The highest price of this last sale, €427,500, went to Personnages se reposant auprès d'une fontaine and La Pêche, two paintings forming a pair, made by Charles-Joseph Natoire (lot

23). With this royal commission from Louis XV for the Château de Fontainebleau, Charles- Joseph Natoire achieved one of the masterpieces of his full maturity, as well as a speaking illustration of the lavish painting of the 18th century.

The catalogue included artists illustrating the greatest Italian periods, like the sculptor Lorenzo Cardelli. His exceptional Roman neoclassical chimneypiece with white marble, green granite and micro-mosaic, 1778-1780, fetched €391,500 (lot 30).

Lastly, bid was also competitive for a mosaic panel from Rome by the Vatican mosaic workshop, c.1835-1845, which at €391,500 multiplied its low estimate by 10 (lot 28).

Museum Preemption

Château de Versailles Timeless elegance Lot 87

Pair of gilt-bronze fire-dogs, Louis XVI, delivered for Madame Elisabeth's apartment at Versailles, attributed to the bronzier Claude-Jean Pitoin

€112,500

Château de Malmaison

Collection of Prince Marc de Beauvau-Craon Lot 7

Portrait de Joséphine à la Malmaison, 1798 Watercolour and pencil on paper

€37,500

Château de Lunéville

Collection of Prince Marc de Beauvau-Craon Lot 124

Tapestry, Lille, c. 1730, after Teniers, Willem Werniers workshop,

€6,875

*Estimates do not include the buyer's premium, and prices consist of the hammer price and the buyer's premium

Images are available on request

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