A Lost Matisse Drawing Discovered During Estate Assessment in France

Thu, 07 May 2026 00:08:00 +0200

A drawing by the famous French artist Henri Matisse was accidentally discovered beneath a pile of trash in a house in the Var department of southeastern France. The artwork was found by auctioneer Jennifer Prempierre-Rolland during a legal property assessment related to guardianship proceedings. The drawing depicts a female portrait and is signed by Matisse. It has been sent to Paris for authentication. If verified, this will be the second Matisse drawing to be found in the region within the last eighteen months. Previously, a rolled-up sketch of Hélène Mercier, née Princess Galitzine, was discovered in a cupboard in a home in the Upper Provence Alps and later sold at auction for €220,000. Henri Matisse, a leading figure in Fauvism, was known for his portraits, genre paintings, still lifes, and designs for stained glass and tapestries. His works continue to hold significant artistic and financial value, with one of his still lifes selling for €35.9 million in 2009. Matisse's descendant