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This Painting of Resting Lions Has Been Hanging in a Family’s Living Room for 150 Years — But It Was an Original Very Old Work Worth a Fortune

Published on 03/04/2025 at 06:23
Updated on 03/04/2025 at 06:24
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What Seemed Like Just a Decorative Painting of Resting Lions Hanging in a Family’s Living Room Turned Out to Be a Remarkable Discovery. A Specialist Noticed Details Indicating It Was a Rare Work of Great Artistic and Historical Value, Completely Transforming the Perception of the Painting.

An Artwork Forgotten on the Wall of a Family Home in Rural France Became International News. The Piece, Depicting Lions Resting, Had Been Hanging in the Living Room for Years. Now, Experts Have Confirmed: It Is an Original Work by Painter Eugène Delacroix.

The Work Had Been in the Possession of the Same Family for 150 Years, Since the Posthumous Sale of the Artist’s Studio in 1864.

Unexpected Discovery

The Find Occurred in the Central Region of Touraine, France. French Auctioneer Malo de Lussac Was Examining the Goods of a Property When He Came Across the Painting.

The Oil Painting on Canvas Measures 61 cm by 50.8 cm and Depicts Seven Lions in Earthy Tones, Lying Relaxedly. Six of the Animals Are Shown in Detail. The Seventh Is Just a Sketch.

Upon Seeing the Work, de Lussac Said He Felt Something Different. “I Was Touched. The Magnetism Was Strong. Most Delacroix Works Are in Museums. We Rarely See Anything of His in Private Hands,” He Told AFP.

The Title of the Painting Is Study of Reclining Lions. The Work Had Been in the Same Family Since the Mid-19th Century, According to the French Newspaper La Nouvelle République.

A Master of Romanticism

Eugène Delacroix Was Born in 1798 and Was One of the Leading Figures of French Romanticism. His Debut Took Place at the Salon of Paris in 1822 with the Painting The Barque of Dante.

His Style Was Noted for Its Vivid Colors and Intense Scenes. One of His Most Famous Works Is Liberty Leading the People, Created After the July Revolution of 1830.

Delacroix Had a Fascination with Wild Animals, Particularly Lions. He Frequently Visited the Jardin des Plantes Zoo in Paris, Where He Observed Lions and Tigers. He Also Studied Taxidermy and Participated in Dissections.

In 1829, When a Lion Named Coco Died at the Zoo, Delacroix Alerted a Sculptor Friend: “The Lion Is Dead. Run as Fast as You Can!,” He Wrote.

For About Ten Years, the Artist Created a Series Titled The Lion Hunt, Featuring Scenes of Confrontations Between Lions and Armed Hunters. Critics Consider These Paintings a Summary of His Career.

Authenticity Confirmed

The Authenticity of the Recently Discovered Painting Has Been Confirmed by Important Documents. Among Them Is a Letter from 1966 Written by Specialist Lee Johnson and a Certificate from 1973 from Collector Pierre Dieterle.

Additionally, the Back of the Canvas Has the Original Wax Seal from Delacroix’s Studio, Used After His Death in 1863.

Auctioneer Malo de Lussac Had Made Another Surprising Discovery the Previous Year. In 2023, He Identified an Original Work by Pieter Brueghel the Younger, a 17th-Century Flemish Artist. The Piece Sold for About 850 Thousand Dollars.

Going to Auction Later This Month

Study of Reclining Lions” Was Auctioned in Paris at the Hôtel Drouot Auction House on March 28. The Painting Reached a Value of 330 Thousand Dollars, According to the Organizers’ Expectations.

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Eueu
Eueu
05/04/2025 19:57

No brasil é assim da se valor ao que não te dá valor e oque tem valor é desvalorizado pela sociedade.

Mauri
Mauri
Em resposta a  Eueu
06/04/2025 16:22

Leu a matéria, isso não aconteceu no Brasil!!!

Fabio Lucas Carvalho

Jornalista especializado em uma ampla variedade de temas, como carros, tecnologia, política, indústria naval, geopolítica, energia renovável e economia. Atuo desde 2015 com publicações de destaque em grandes portais de notícias. Minha formação em Gestão em Tecnologia da Informação pela Faculdade de Petrolina (Facape) agrega uma perspectiva técnica única às minhas análises e reportagens. Com mais de 10 mil artigos publicados em veículos de renome, busco sempre trazer informações detalhadas e percepções relevantes para o leitor.

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