The French government has intervened to prevent the sale of a recently discovered drawing by Hans Baldung, as reported by the Art Newspaper. This decision has disrupted what was anticipated to be a significant Old Master auction in Paris.
This exquisite portrait, dated 1517 and attributed to the German Renaissance artist, was set to be auctioned at Beaussant Lefèvre, with an estimated value between $1.74 million and $3.5 million. Just two days prior to the auction, the French culture ministry designated it as a national treasure, imposing a 30-month export ban that effectively removes it from the market.
Such government interventions are uncommon but not unprecedented in France, where authorities can pause sales to allow local institutions the opportunity to gather resources and retain significant artworks. The implications of this particular case are profound, as Baldung's drawings are rarely available for purchase, and this piece is touted as the only surviving silverpoint portrait by the artist still in private ownership.
Measuring modestly, the drawing features a bust-length portrayal of a woman in a bonnet and high-necked dress, identified as Susanna Pfeffinger, the spouse of a prosperous merchant from Strasbourg. Throughout his career, Baldung was closely associated with Strasbourg, and this artwork has reportedly remained within the same family for approximately 500 years.
The drawing only came to light recently when auctioneer Arthur de Moras discovered it while preparing a probate inventory. The family had long believed it to be the work of Hans Holbein, but experts quickly recognized its true attribution. This claim has been supported by notable authorities, including curators from the Albertina in Vienna and the Staatliche Kunsthalle Karlsruhe in Germany.
The unique combination of its rarity, excellent condition, and fresh market status explains the heightened interest. The last Baldung drawing auctioned was in 2007, which sold for over $3.7 million at Christie's.
Currently, the auction has been postponed. Beaussant Lefèvre has halted the sale, and the owners are likely to seek a private buyer within France. If no institution steps forward within the 30-month period, the drawing may eventually re-enter the international market. For now, it remains in its current location.
