Alain Delon is one of the most famous and influential actors in the history of French cinema. He has starred in more than 100 films, working with some of the greatest directors of his time, such as Luchino Visconti, Jean-Luc Godard, Jean-Pierre Melville, and Michelangelo Antonioni. He has won numerous awards and honors, including the César Award for Best Actor, the Legion of Honor, the Honorary Golden Bear, and the Honorary Palme d'Or. He is also known for his striking beauty, charismatic personality, and romantic relationships with actresses such as Romy Schneider and Mireille Darc.
But Alain Delon is not only a movie star. He is also a passionate and discerning art collector who has amassed a remarkable collection of paintings, sculptures, and drawings throughout his life. His collection reflects his taste, curiosity, and love for art. It includes masterpieces by some of the great names in art history, such as Veronese, Domenico Beccafumi, Camille Corot, Eugène Delacroix, Jean-François Millet, Raoul Dufy, and Albert Gleizes.
On June 22, 2023, Alain Delon will offer his art collection at Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr in Paris in a sale titled "Alain Delon: 60 Years of Passion". The sale will include 81 lots, estimated at 4-5 million euros. It will be a rare opportunity for art lovers and fans of Alain Delon to acquire a piece of his legacy.
The collection spans from the Italian Renaissance to the 20th century, focusing on 19th-century French art. It showcases Delon's eclectic and sophisticated taste and his affinity for certain themes and genres. For instance, he prefers landscapes, portraits, and animal scenes. He also has a keen eye for quality and rarity, as evidenced by some of the sale's highlights.
One of the highlights is a painting by Paolo Veronese (1528-1588), one of the leading artists of the Venetian Renaissance. The painting depicts The Virgin and Child with Saint John the Baptist and Saint Catherine of Alexandria. It is dated around 1565-1570 and is estimated at 800,000-1.2 million euros. It is one of the few paintings by Veronese that remain in private hands.
Another highlight is a drawing by Domenico Beccafumi (1486-1551), one of the Sienese school's most original and inventive artists. The drawing represents The Holy Family with Saint John the Baptist. It is dated to around 1520-1525 and is estimated at 300,000-500,000 euros. It is one of the finest examples of Beccafumi's graphic work and shows his mastery of light and shadow.
A third highlight is a painting by Camille Corot (1796-1875), one of the most influential landscape painters of the 19th century. The painting depicts A View of Rome from Monte Mario. It is dated to around 1826-1828 and is estimated at 300,000-500,000 euros. It is one of Corot's earliest views of Rome and shows his remarkable sense of atmosphere and color.
