Hauts-de-France,
a land of discoveries in old drawings

From private collections to public collections

Historic drawings continue to be discovered and rediscovered throughout France. The Hauts-de-France region holds a unique place in this regard: it is home to significant collections assembled by families of industrialists, merchants, and discerning art lovers who have shaped the economic history of northern France, and these collections regularly contribute to our understanding of French masters.

The exhibition in Amiens perfectly illustrates this reality. From Nicolas Poussin to Jacques-Louis David, including works by Watteau, Fragonard, and Charles Le Brun, it brings together drawings that were long kept in private collections before being exceptionally unveiled to the public.

Works still in circulation

This circulation among private collections, the art market, and institutions remains a key driver of research today. Several drawings presented by Aguttes in recent years bear witness to this. A Study of a Seated Woman for the ceiling of the Salon d’Hercule by François Lemoyne, as well as an Allegory of the Treaty of Ryswick by Charles de La Fosse, have thus joined the collections of the Palace of Versailles after being offered for sale. Conversely, certain works, such as a remarkable drawing by Jean-Baptiste Oudry, remain in private hands, while the drawings by Jacques-Louis David continue to attract the interest of art lovers.

Through this selection of drawings held outside public collections, the Musée de Picardie sheds light on a heritage that is often overlooked, the study of which continues to advance through rediscoveries, exhibitions, and public auctions.

For any requests for appraisals of your antique drawings in the Hauts-de-France region, please contact:

Pauline Boddaert
boddaert@aguttes.com - 06 99 02 22 63