France

Two Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) drawings created national news last week as Christie’s posted a record for a sketch by the great master in London while a court in Paris is to determine whether another can be legally exported from France.

The sale of Michel Périnet’s collection of tribal art at Christie’s in Paris on June 23 real ised a remarkable €66m/£57m (including buyer’s premium) and every one of the 61 lots were sold.

Old Master paintings come up for sale throughout the year in France but the summer season traditionally mounts a number of dedicated auctions in the field.

Some of the world’s most famous Old Master paintings have been highly regarded for many centuries, carrying a reputation that has led to them being replicated and copied by other artists – sometimes soon after their creation.

Our selection of potential stand-out lots in sales across Europe, plus a French tribal art fair

Drawings fair will be staged in the usual venue but dealers can also take part online

Sixteenth century Limoges work depicts underworld scene from Virgil’s The Aeneid

Although long-standing Paris fair for works on paper the Salon du Dessin has moved its dates to July 1-4, the other Paris fair, Drawing Now, devoted to Contemporary works on paper, usually staged at the same time, is taking place this month from June 10-13.

Auction house Prunier in Louviers, Normandy, has a long tradition of holding sales of Haute Epoque or early works of art.

A highlight at Millon on June 14 is a miniature painted with a double portrait of the Mughal emperors Shah Jahan and his son and successor Aurangzeb.

This panel painting of The Annunciation is on offer at the sale of Old Master paintings at Aguttes on June 17.

A charcoal drawing by Henri Matisse (1869-1954) that has not been seen since the major retrospective on the artist at the Philadelphia Museum of Art in 1948 is to be offered at auction in Aix-en-Provence.

Dozens of art and antiques galleries in the Left Bank area of Paris known as the Carré Rive Gauche are enticing art lovers back to the district with a five-day event showcasing new stock and exhibitions.

Christie’s sale in Paris on June 16 includes this portrait of a young woman writing a letter by the artist known as The Master of the Female Half Lengths.

Sotheby’s Paris sale of Old Masters on June 15 offers a selection of paintings and sculpture spanning the Middle Ages through to the 19th century.

The silvered dial to this 1960s stainless steel bracelet watch gives a clue to its former owner.

TEFAF Maastricht 2021 has been cancelled due to the ongoing effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

A collection of 20th century designer furniture has been discovered in a local apartment by Jérôme de Colonges, auctioneer for Primardeco/Ivoire Toulouse.

Artcurial holds one of its periodic sales of Old Master and 19th century paintings and drawings on June 9.