The online auction organized by the Louvre, Christie's and Drouot was not only a first, but also a bet for the museum.
When it closed on December 15 at 3 p.m., it proved to be a success: 23 of the 24 lots found buyers.
Only one piece by Xavier Veilhan did not sell and 65% of the lots went beyond the high estimate.
In all, the operation raised more than 2.3 million euros, for the benefit of a new space dedicated to artistic education and solidarity projects.
Read also: Auction: the Louvre innovates to raise funds
The sale consisted of several works of art offered by artists (Johan Creten, Candida Höfer, Eva Jospin, Jean-Michel Othoniel and Xavier Veilhan) and branded objects created by big names in luxury, partners of the museum (Cartier , Christian Dior Couture, Christian Dior Parfums, Le Meurice, Moët Hennessy, Off-White, Ritz Paris, Vacheron Constantin and Louis Vuitton).
In addition, there were “
unusual and exceptional experiences
”, including very private tours, a concert or a dinner.
A painting by Soulages from 1962, from the artist's collection (estimate 800,000-1,200,000 euros), was sold for 1.4 million euros.
La Rose du Louvre, a
painting by Jean-Michel Othoniel "on white gold leaves" went to 90,000 euros.
80,000 euros to see
La Joconde
without a window
Buyers were also won over by the experiences offered.
One of them increased up to 80,000 euros to be able to attend the annual examination of
La Mona Lisa
outside his window (estimate of 10,000 euros).
Another will be able to walk the roofs of the museum in the company of the artist JR (42,000 euros, for an estimate of 6,000) or attend a private concert in the Caryatids hall (42,000 euros).
A buyer was even seduced by the proposal to visit the museum, alone with its president Jean-Luc Martinez (38,000 euros).
"
20,000 visitors from 24 countries consulted the Christie's site and there was a bidding battle in the home stretch
", explains Yann le Touher, head of patronage at the Louvre.
The sale was decided before the health crisis, but it comes at the right time.
The museum has lost 80% of its attendance and is experiencing a soft spot.
Innovative, it made it possible to confirm that the “
Louvre brand
” attracted all over the world.
And that the prospect of being treated separately, like a VIP, is always successful.
The Louvre does not know if it will repeat the operation.
"In this type of event, the scarcity effect is fully in play"
continues Yann le Touher.
All the unions in the house had also expressed “
their anger and their shame
” at this sale and the “
commodification
” of the name of the Louvre.