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Francis Mouton

@auctionaugur.bsky.social
302 followers 138 following 2.2K posts

Art historian looking for interesting stories in old master auctions

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Francis Mouton @auctionaugur.bsky.social · 13h
Sale of the collection Fursac in Brussels, lot 120: Jacob Jordaens, "2 Children, one playing a flute", canvass, 62*62cm, 4000Fr. As can be seen from that price, the buyers in 1923 didn't consider it a real Jordaens... No idea why Jesus is playing the flute (or smoking a pipe?). No later trace found.
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Francis Mouton @auctionaugur.bsky.social · 14h
Last of my 6 French Jules Verne buys: "Michel Strogoff", 1895, band "au portrait collée", rare version where the binding for another title has been altered for Strogoff by pasting new labels on front and spine, as described in link to shop (1200 Euro? Wow...) share.google/1Etk7yFJtRSp...
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Francis Mouton @auctionaugur.bsky.social · 15h
That´s what I didn´t knew when I bought it, but luckily they are all there (except for the pages missing at beginning and end). Me happy!
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Francis Mouton @auctionaugur.bsky.social · 16h
17th-Century drawing of young black woman should interest collectors and musea. Est. 300€ drouot.com/fr/l/3518126...
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Francis Mouton @auctionaugur.bsky.social · 17h
My oldest and heaviest book just arrived (and it isn´t even complete!) Will show more the next weeks I guess.
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Francis Mouton @auctionaugur.bsky.social · 19h
Daily picture from my visit to the Sint-Salvator cathedral in Bruges. Gillis Backereel, "Carolus Borromeus hands out the Communion", 352*272cm.
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Francis Mouton @auctionaugur.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Sale of the collection Fursac in Brussels, lot 119: Jacob Jordaens, "The Apostle", panel, 67*50cm, 12000Fr. Sold for £23000 at Christie's in 1998, with some history but no mention of this sale. www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-1...
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Francis Mouton @auctionaugur.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Biggest mistake seems to be that they equate "more sex partners" with "more sex", which is, unless you only have one-night stands, not the same thing at all.
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Francis Mouton @auctionaugur.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Not bad for such a small scale.
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Francis Mouton @auctionaugur.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Only 26 by 30 cm! For comparison, the earlier and much poorer "Harmen Hals" version. commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ha...
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Francis Mouton @auctionaugur.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Just sold for 520€ against a 300€ estimate at Marambat - de Malafosse, and sadly also above my highest bid. Some decent quality but in very poor condition. A worse version was sold as the work of Harmen Hals, hard to say which artist from the wide Teniers circle is responsible for this one.
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Francis Mouton @auctionaugur.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Fifrth of my 6 French Jules Verne acquisitions: "L´île mystérieuse" 1897. This type of band used for only a few titles. This edition sells, in specialized shops and in good condition, for around 1500 euro usually. Mine is decent condition but not thát good probably ;^)
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Francis Mouton @auctionaugur.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Daily picture from my visit to the Sint-Salvator cathedral in Bruges: "Annunciation". Bizarrely, I can't find information about this work online, not even in Balat.
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Francis Mouton @auctionaugur.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Checked again, and it looks like 54000Fr instead, which is more in line with the prices for other important works at this auction
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Francis Mouton @auctionaugur.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Sale of the collection Fursac in Brussels, lot 116: Adriaen Isenbrant, "Triptych", panel, 40*61cm (opened), 17900Fr. Now in a (Russian?) private collection, on display at the Moscow Art Center in 2022.
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Francis Mouton @auctionaugur.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Indeed, at first I couldn't believe these were 19th century, the bright colours and the font made them seem much more modern. The paper used inside tends to fox, but the materials used for the covers were top quality obviously for such mass products.
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Francis Mouton @auctionaugur.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Fourth of my French Jules Verne acquisitions: "La maison à vapeur" 1898. This edition sells, depending on the condition, for around 600 euro usually. Mine is rather foxed though.
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Francis Mouton @auctionaugur.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Daily picture from my visit to the treasury of Sint-Salvator cathedral in Bruges: Jacob van Oost the Elder, "Flight into Egypt". The two Jacob van Oosts were the sole good Bruges' painters in the later 17th century. 192*289cm, too large to capture completely, and with tough lighting.
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Francis Mouton @auctionaugur.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
De "besloten hofjes" in het museum Hof van Buysleden in Mechelen zijn zeer mooie voorbeelden van dergelijke kunst. Wel, van "gasthuiszusters", weet niet zeker of het nonnen waren dan wel begijnen, beide groepen baatten hospitalen uit natuurlijk. www.hofvanbusleyden.be/collectie/ni...
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Francis Mouton @auctionaugur.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
And since February 2026 it is listed at Simon Dickinson as a true rediscovered Thomas Lawrence (if true, then the 6000 Euro buyer had a real steal at Millon!) No provenance given except for the recent French auction, I wonder if they know about the Fursac Hoppner simondickinson.com/blog/66-redi...
simondickinson.com
Rediscovery: A Freshly Uncovered Portrait of a Lady by Sir Thomas Lawrence, c. 1805
Dickinson is pleased to announce the recent discovery of an exquisite, previously unrecorded portrait of a lady by Sir Thomas...
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Francis Mouton @auctionaugur.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Sale of the collection Fursac in Brussels, lot 110; John Hoppner, "Portrait of a young lady", canvass, 77*63cm, 48000Fr. Sold at Millon in 2025 as "Attributed to Thomas Lawrence" for 6000 Euro (without provenance). I wonder what @bendorgrosvenor.bsky.social (consultant for that auction) thinks? 1/2
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Francis Mouton @auctionaugur.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Bought at auction 12 old Jules Verne novels for just 200 Euro costs included. These 2 are from the magnificent "golden sphere" edition (1896-1904), including a first edition of Les Frères Kip (a good copy sold for 1000 Euro at Boisgirard!), and a reedition of Vingt Milles Lieues.
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Francis Mouton @auctionaugur.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Daily picture from my visit to the treasury of Sint-Salvator cathedral in Bruges: Antoon Claeissens, "Lactation of Saint Bernard" (such a weird topic), 1608, panel, 185*168cm. Difficuly lighting conditions (bright light above the work), so a very greyed out photo...
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Francis Mouton @auctionaugur.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Not Betelgeuse, Betelgeuse, Betelgeuse?
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Francis Mouton @auctionaugur.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Sale of the collection Fursac in Brussels, lot 108: attributed to Hans Holbein, portrait of Charles V, panel, tondo diam. 20cm, 22000Fr. Haven't found this one again. Similar to two works close to Jan Vermeyen, one from the Brussels Museum and one from the Phoebus Foundation.
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Francis Mouton @auctionaugur.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Portraits of women with a falcon seem to be very rare, but even that didn't help me in finding this one again.
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Francis Mouton @auctionaugur.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Bought at auction 12 old Jules Verne novels for just 200 Euro costs included. Already briefly discussed the rare Dutch language ones, here is the least interesting of the French ones, from 1925. The remainder is older, more sought after and better looking. Around the world in 80 days.
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Francis Mouton @auctionaugur.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
No idea what the figure up in the clouds is supposed to look like, it probably is the Holy Spirit, but this depiction looks weird
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Francis Mouton @auctionaugur.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Daily picture from my visit to the treasury of Sint-Salvator cathedral in Bruges: Pieter Aertsen, triptych with the Adoration of the shepherds, left wing, "Saint John the Baptist preaching / the baptism of Christ", ca. 1550.
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Francis Mouton @auctionaugur.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Sale of the collection Fursac in Brussels, lot 105: Lucas de Heere, "Portrait of a noble lady", panel, 88*60cm, 14000Fr. Haven't found later images of this interesting work, which reminds me of works by Pieter Pourbus.
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Francis Mouton @auctionaugur.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Another version was sold by Christie's in 2000 as Manner of Wouwerman, for £3000. www.christies.com/lot/manner-o...
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Francis Mouton @auctionaugur.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Gelukkig doet het huidige koningshuis het dan beter? Oh wacht, nee, als ze gedeeld erfgoed hebben met Indonesië, verkopen ze het liever voor miljoenen aan Singapore. www.groene.nl/artikel/opge...
groene.nl
Opgerold en weggeborgen
De negentiende-eeuwse schilder Raden Saleh is een van de meest bijzondere iconen van de gedeelde geschiedenis van Indonesië en Nederland. Maar het lijkt wel of Nederland van hem af wil, zoals ook Mult...
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Francis Mouton @auctionaugur.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Ader just sold this "in the style of the 17th c." Flemish painting with an estimate of 300€, so naturally I bid on it. Wasn't the only one though to see the obvious quality here, ended at 1200€. Circle of Pieter Wouwerman. www.ader-paris.fr/en/lot/18480...
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Reposted by Francis Mouton
vrtnws @vrtnws.be · 02/10/2026
"Dit is terug naar af", "verschraling van het cultuurlandschap": experts uiten scherpe kritiek op besparingen op erfgoed vrtnws.be/p.ewPy4AqPj?t=179... @vrtnws.be
vrtnws.be
"Dit is terug naar af", "verschraling van het cultuurlandschap": experts uiten scherpe kritiek op besparingen op erfgoed
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Francis Mouton @auctionaugur.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Daily picture from my visit to the treasury of Sint-Salvator cathedral in Bruges: Pieter Aertsen, triptych with the Adoration of the shepherds, central panel, 136*111cm, ca. 1550.
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Francis Mouton @auctionaugur.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Tuscan, ca. 1470-1480, circle of the Pseudo Pier Francesco Fiorentino, est. 4000€. Not the highest quality, but an unusual look. www.interencheres.com/art-decorati...
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Francis Mouton @auctionaugur.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Schrijffout in de titel op de kaft, redelijk genant...
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Francis Mouton @auctionaugur.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Verkoop boeken die je dubbel hebt aan AI-bedrijven. Jullie krijgen geld, zij vernietigen het boek, en jullie overblijvend exemplaar wordt dus zeldzamer en bijzonderer. Win-win! (Ja, een barbaarse oplossing, maar dat is het afschaffen van die subsidies ook...)
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Francis Mouton @auctionaugur.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Won two perhaps nice lots, 6 old French Jules Vernes (to be seen how old exactly), and 6 very rare 19th c. Belgian Dutch Jules Vernes from Brussels (not from Elsevier or from the Ghent publishers one normally sees). Not present in National Library or Erfgoedbibliotheek apparently.
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Francis Mouton @auctionaugur.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Sale of the collection Fursac in Brussels, lot 103: Jan David de Heem, "Still life", signed, dated 1663, canvass, 116*170cm, 14000Fr. Offered at Bonhams in 2012 for £300,000! www.bonhams.com/auction/2001...
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Francis Mouton @auctionaugur.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
No, there are a few such triptychs by Marten van Heemskerck, but in general it's a rare subject for the central panel.
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Francis Mouton @auctionaugur.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Daily picture from my visit to the treasury of Sint-Salvator cathedral in Bruges: Pieter Claeissens the Younger, "Triptych of Johannes Montanus", 1609.
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Francis Mouton @auctionaugur.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Sale of the collection Fursac in Brussels, lot 98: Francisco Guardi, "View of the Grand Canal in Venice", canvass, 44*69cm, 21000Fr. It's a variation on the Louvre painting (shown on the right), and as such harder to trace.
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Francis Mouton @auctionaugur.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
And the left panel
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Francis Mouton @auctionaugur.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Daily picture from the Early Netherlandish art in the Sint-Salvator cathedral in Bruges: Pieter Pourbus, "Triptych of the Sacra brotherhood of the Saint Salvator church", signed, 1559. Central panel, Last Supper.
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Francis Mouton @auctionaugur.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Nice! There are a few names which always reappear with those, Daniel Seghers, Erasmus Quellinus and Hendrick Van Balen are also common.
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Francis Mouton @auctionaugur.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Galerie Moderne sells a Flemish, 17th c. Adoration in a guirland of flowers, 120*98cm, est. 4000€. They don't give provenance, but it was sold at Sotheby's in 1998 and is listed at the RKD as by the workshop of Jan Brueghel II and circle of Cornelis Schut. galeriemoderne.be/lot/185275/3...
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Francis Mouton @auctionaugur.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Sale of the collection Fursac in Brussels, lot 94: Jean Grandjean, "Bacchanal", signed, dated 1776, canvass, 71*90cm, 4600Fr. No image, but works by this Dutch painter are very rare. This one was sold at Van Ham in 1971 and recently for sale with Gallerease. www.gallerease.com/en/artworks/...
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Francis Mouton @auctionaugur.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
In case someone is worried: I never use flash for these photos, the reflection is from the lights in the gallery. I make no changes to these photos beyond the automatic adjustments done by my smartphone, apart from cropping the image to my liking.
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Francis Mouton @auctionaugur.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Daily picture from the Early Netherlandish art in the Sint-Salvator cathedral in Bruges: Pieter Pourbus, "Triptych of the Sacra brotherhood of the Saint Salvator church", signed, 1559. Right wing, "An angel comforting Elijah".
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