Three works by Paul Cézanne have been withdrawn from Sotheby's "Le Temps Retrouvé: The Schlumberger Collection" evening sale in Paris. The paintings--"La Ferme," "Arbres au Bord de la Rivière" and "Ciel Entre les Arbres"--were created between 1862 and 1864 and had a combined estimate of €1.4 million to €2 million.
The works are returning to Cézanne's hometown of Aix-en-Provence and are intended for display at the Musée Granet. Sotheby's said the Schlumberger family and the town have discussed the paintings' future, and the municipality now plans to acquire them with support from France's Ministry of Culture.
A shared history with Aix-en-Provence
The paintings were originally part of a large mural at Jas de Bouffan, the Cézanne family estate where the artist developed his practice. After the estate was dispersed, the mural was detached and transferred to canvas in 1899, then divided into eight sections.
Their return would reconnect these early works with the place that shaped their creation, potentially enriching public access to Cézanne's artistic history for generations to come.
