Un dessin de Hans Baldung Grien classé trésor national
A 1517 silverpoint drawing by German Renaissance artist Hans Baldung Grien, titled 'Portrait of Susanna Pfeffinger,' has been classified as a French national treasure. The work, which was set to be auctioned at the Hôtel Drouot by Beaussant-Lefèvre, is now subject to an export ban, giving French museums like the Louvre a 30-month window to acquire it.
This classification prevents the rare and fragile drawing from leaving France, ensuring it remains in the national patrimony. The decision sparks debate about the high cost of acquisition for museums, the infrequency with which such delicate works can be publicly displayed, and the broader implications for the French art market when significant works are blocked from international sale.