The oil sketch for Eugène Delacroix’s 'Liberty Leading the People' that made £2.6m at Christie’s.
While numerous sketches and preparatory drawings for the 1830 painting are known (often unsigned and their attribution unsecure), Christie’s said this 2ft 1in x 2ft 8in (65 x 81cm) oil is the only one “that fully outlines the intended final composition”.
Overlooked for much of its existence, it had previously been misattributed to Delacroix’s apprentice, Pierre Andrieu.
Offered here as a fully autograph work, it came to auction from a Swiss collection, estimated at £700,000-1m. It was knocked down at £2.6m (plus premium).
