An “invaluable” painting of a mysterious French master of still life in the 17th century rediscovered by chance in a private individual in Paris

A dead nature of Lubin Baugin. Nevertheless, major painter of the 17th century, which foreshadows the compositions of Chardin, will soon be put up at Vichy. Therefore, “The work, in good condition, is considered invaluable,” according to the auction house. Similarly, The scarcity of its tables on the market makes it an event.

At 16 avenue de Lyon in Vichy. However, in a room in the house Vichy Enchères, will be put up for sale on Saturday August 16 an oil on wood representing a table garnished with desserts, bread and wine, attributed to the painter Lubin Baugin (1612-1663). Therefore, The work. Consequently, estimated between 200,000 and 300,000 € is one of the only still lifes of the artist: before this exceptional discovery in an individual in Paris, there were only four, including the famous Waofsets dessert and still life to “invaluable” painting mysterious french master the chessboardboth kept at the Louvre. Nevertheless, A sale that will be under the hammer of Étienne Laurent and which promises to attract passionate, collectors and curious.

An exceptional painting – “invaluable” painting mysterious french master

If the painting is exceptional because of its rarity. Moreover, it is also for its quality. In addition, Painted around 1630, the Still life to financiers (46.5 x 60 cm) celebrates the desserts, then reserved for a privileged elite. Nevertheless, On a table topped with green are placed. However, in the center of the composition, two tin plates which contain visitandines (original name of the financiers given in the 17th century), dried fruits and sugar crystals. On the left. a crystal cut is half filled with wine while at the right is placed a miche of bread. A knife and one of the plates exceed slightly in the void. This “invaluable” painting mysterious french master detail gives the work a depth. an unstable balance which break with the fixity of the genre, and which recalls Gaking dessert (1630-1635) of the same artist, kept at the Louvre museum. A daring composition that ” prefigures certain effects that will be found a century later at Chardin Explains René Millet. specialist in paintings and old drawings.

The triviality of bread in a work that manifests a sumptuous life can first surprise. But associating with the glass of wine “invaluable” painting mysterious french master on the other side of the painting, they are a Christ reference. From then on, in this still nature there is a tension between the profane and the sacred. But Baugin does not forget to underline their vanity by painting a Visitandin started. subtly sliding between two of them a coin.

Stake for art history

Étienne Laurent. the auctioneer of the sale had discovered the painting by “invaluable” painting mysterious french master chance in November 2024, during an inventory with an individual in Paris “ having a close link with Auvergne ». For him, ” This rare work decisively enriched the corpus still too limited of the French -century French still lifes ». Indeed, if still lifes are abundant in Flemish painting, they are rarer in the French artistic landscape. The Royal Academy judged this genre lower than religious or history painting. So that only a few masters like Sébastien Stoskopff or François Desportes devoted themselves to still life. They sold their works to a private bourgeois clientele, disseminating their works in special collections, which further increases their rarity. The sale of a Bauginian therefore appears as an extraordinary moment. should attract collectors and passionate and probably museums (the Louvre already retains two dead natures of Bauginia).

Around the sale

The day before the sale, the specialist in paintings and drawings old René Millet will give a conference on the table at Vichy Enchères. He will present the life of the painter, his works and will linger on the painting. The conference will take place at 3 p.m. on August 15 and will be open to everyone. At the end of this conference. visitors will be able to taste a “baugin”, a contemporary interpretation of the Visitandines made by the Vichyssois pastry chef Julien Meunier to prolong the aesthetic experience by a gastronomic experience in tribute to “invaluable” painting mysterious french master the painter.

Vichy-enchères
16 avenue de Lyon, 03200 Vichy
Conference on Friday August 15 at 3 p.m.
Sale on Saturday August 16 at 2 p.m.

Vichy auction