Buyers for the sale are typically from within the European Union and Bonhams believed it was prudent to move the sale to the same jurisdiction to ease export.
The inaugural sale in Paris will take place on May 19 and selected highlights will be on preview in Athens from May 5-9 and in Paris at Bonhams, 4 rue de la Paix on May 14, 17 and 18.
Bonhams said it is holding the sale in France for the first time as part of its “expansion in France and for the convenience of buyers, most of whom are based in Europe”.
As usual, the sale is put together by Bonhams in London and its associates in Athens, Art Expertise. This year marks the 200th anniversary of the Greek Revolution against the Ottoman Empire which eventually led to independence in 1830.
'Le héros Karaiskakis en guerre avec Kioutachis' by Theofilos Hadjimichael (1871-1934). Created in 1911, this is a homage to a renowned figure of the 1821 Greek War of Independence, Georgios Karaiskakis, commander-in-chief of Greek forces in eastern Greece. It is guided at €80,000-120,000 at Bonhams.
Captive audience
Among the lots in the sale is La Captive by Théodore Ralli (1852-1909) estimated at €300,000-500,000.
Bonhams Greek Art specialist Anastasia Orfanidou said: “Although La Captive was painted in 1885, many years after the event it depicts, the work found a ready audience who recognised Ralli’s ability to capture not only the poignancy of the moment but also the cause of freedom from tyranny everywhere.”
