This work, reverse painted on an 18in x 2ft 1in (46 x 64cm) glass panel and housed in a gilt wooden frame, was unsigned but can be attributed to the French artist Victor Vispré.
He was born in Besançon in 1727, but spent much of his working life in London and Dublin. Due to the fact that most of his pieces were signed only Vispré, they were generally considered to be the work of his elder brother François-Xavier, who was well known for his miniatures and portraits, some of which he exhibited at the Royal Academy. He also penned the ironically titled Le moyen de devenir Peintre en trois heures (How to become a painter in three hours), published anonymously in 1756.
Recent research has been able to demonstrate that the glass paintings were in fact the work of the younger brother, Victor. The vibrant still-life in Munich was knocked down for the estimated €4000 (£3510) to a European collector bidding on the phone.
Chessboard check
In the same sale frenetic bidding developed for a Persian chessboard with marquetry in so-called Khatam-technique. Although it had some damage, it was taken from €300 to €7000 (£6140), going to an international dealer on lotissimo.com.
