|
The painting is the work of Belgian illustrator
Georges Remi, better known by his nom de plume Herge, who was
the author of the Tintin comic books. He died in 1983.
Herge submitted the painting for his editor as a proposed cover
for the pre-World War Two Tintin album "The Blue Lotus,"
according to the Artcurial auction house.
But Herge's publisher rejected the painting, on the grounds that
the colours chosen would make it too expensive to print.
A different Herge image was used for the cover, and the
illustrator instead gave the rejected image as a gift for
Jean-Louis Casterman, heir to the publishing house that
published the Tintin books.
The painting was kept by Casterman, folded in a draw. Until his
death, he declined offers to sell the work, saying he treasured
it as a gift from Herge, according to Eric Leroy, comic book
expert at Artcurial.
The work has never before been offered for sale, said Leroy. The
estimate for the auction is set at between 2.2 million euros and
2.8 million euros.
The image shows the intrepid young reporter Tintin, in oriental
dress and flanked by his dog, Snowy, hiding in a vase from a
rampant red dragon.
The painting, in ink, watercolour and gouache, still bears the
marks where it was folded.
"It's the most beautiful item that's on the market in private
hands," said Leroy.
(Reporting by Lea Guedj; Writing by Christian Lowe; Editing by
Angus MacSwan)
[© 2021 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2021 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content
|
|
