Corneille de Lyon (The Hague 1500/10 - 1575 Lyon), Portrait of a gentleman. Photo Sotheby's

oil on panel, unframed; 15.7 by 13.4 cm.; 6 1/4 by 5 1/4 in. Estimation 60,000-80,000 GBP. Lot vendu: 73,250 GBP

NOTE: Hitherto unrecorded, this portrait has only recently been discovered after restoration had removed large amounts of overpaint, including a suit of armour covering the sitter's black tunic. The sketchy nature of the costume is typical of Corneille's working method, and indeed was often left unfinished: compare, for example, the Portrait of a gentleman sold in these Rooms, 6 July 2011, lot 37. Although Netherlandish by birth, Corneille de Lyon spent his working life in France, first as court painter to Queen Eleanor, second wife of François 1er, and subsequently to Henri II, who appointed him Peintre du Roi in 1543. He assumed French nationality four years later and retained it for the remainder of his life.

Artcurial - Briest-Poulain-F.Tajan - Monte-Carlo. Mercredi 25 juillet 2012. Hôtel Hermitage, Monte-Carlo. www.artcurial.com