An Unknown Fragonard

A newly discovered portrait by Fragonard depicting a "Young Girl in a Hat",  was sold by Boisgirard-Antonini on 21st December.  It fetched €3.25m, against an estimate of   €400,000 - 600,000.

The Paris catacombs

 The Sky History [History Channel] website has posted a new article (27th November) on the Paris catacombs with links to various English-language resources. 

More Adam Zamoyski ....

The Catholic Herald for 14th December publishes an interview with historian Adam Zamoyski. 

Yet another chair...

 What is the obsession with 18th-century chairs??  A Louis XVI period gilded wood chair, stamped by Georges Jacob, from Marie Antoinette’s boudoir in Versailles has just achieved a new record price at auction of S$2.8 million [2.6 million]. Hope the new owner sits on its cautiously....

Philippe Borde on David (new book)

 Philippe Bordes's latest book, Jacques Louis David, la traite négrière et l'esclavage. Son séjour à Nantes, mars-avril 1790  is published on December 7th ( in the"Passerelles" collection, Éditions de la MSH), with full text is available on Open Edition Books.

McPhee on Ridley Scott

Among the dozens of responses to the Ridley Scott Napoleon, here is a noteworthy one from Peter McPhee,  published in The Conversation on 5th December. 

French historians react to Ridley Scott

According to an article published in Variety on 6th December, French pundits aren't that impressed with Ridley Scott's Napoleon...

La Tour pastel on show at the Getty

The J. Paul Getty Museum is currently showcasing Quentin de La Tour's magnificent pastel portrait of Gabriel Bernard de Rieux.  The exhibition Untold Stories of a Monumental Pastel runs at the Getty Center, Los Angeles, from 3rd October 2023 to 20th October 2024.  

Vigée Lebrun self-portrait (auction)

On 31st January Sotheby's New York is to auction  a 1816 self-portrait by Élisabeth Vigée Lebrun, which is anticipated to be going to fetch as much as $1 million.   

Legacy - new podcast series

"In their new podcast series, produced by Goalhanger & Wondery, Afua Hirsch and Peter Frankopan tell the wild stories of some of the most extraordinary men and women ever to have lived – and ask whether they have the reputation they deserve."