Press article : Cannes collections - Challenges

Raoul DUFY 1877-1953
Le dépicage bleu, circa 1948

Maître Jean-Pierre Besch is keen to tell the story of his two paintings by Raoul Dufy : The current owner's mother was Émilienne and Raoul Dufy's housekeeper in the 1940s when they lived in Paris. She then joined the painter's widow in Nice. These two paintings were given to her in the 1950s after several exhibitions, including one at the Venice Biennale. The oil on canvas "Le dépicage bleu" dates from 1948-1949 (80000€ to 120000€) and "L'hommage à Mozart" (100000€ to 150000€) dates from 1952, a year before Raoul Dufy's death. These two works are among the 165 lots in the sale organised in Cannes on April 28th, along with "sketchbooks, drawings and an aquatint", adds the auctioneer. In the same sale, he will be presenting a "Composition" by Léopold Survage (30000€-40000€), dating from the 1920s, "also from a private collection, that of a great Survage fan," explains Jean-Pierre Besch. He chose to sell this painting, which combines the artist's strong themes of symbolism and cubism". In keeping with the spirit of the 20th century, there are two sculptures in the catalogue : a Head of a Horse by Diego Giacometti, acquired directly from the artist (30000€ to 40000€), and a Little Bear by François-Xavier Lalanne in bronze, estimated at 240000€ to 300000€. This is a conservative figure when compared with the same bear, which sold for 420000€ at the hammer price at Sotheby's in 2021.

Auction at Besch Cannes Auction on April 28th

By Clémentine Pomeau-Peyre - Challenges n°827 of April 25th, 2024 page 110