A Looted Portrait by Nicolas de Largillierre Restituted by The Monuments Men And Rose Valland Sold on November 21st at Christie’s Sale For 529.200 Euros
On November 21st 2024, at Christie’s Paris “Old Masters and 19th Century paintings” sale, the “Portrait de femme à mi-corps” by Nicolas de Largillierre (1656-1746) sold after a long bidding battle for over 500.000 euros (i.e. 10 times its lowest estimation).
During WWII, the painting had been looted from the collection of Baron Philippe de Rothschild by the Nazis and then transferred through the Musée du Jeu de Paume to be sent to Germany. It was found by Rose Valland, who worked at the time as a curator for the Musée and registered all information on the artworks looted by the Nazis.
The Portrait was then recovered in 1945 at the Castle of Neuschwanstein in Baviera by the Monuments Men, thanks to Valland’s indications. It was returned to the Rotschild family after the war where it stayed in their possession until its auction sale in the late 1970s.
