The Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth, Texas, has acquired Jean Siméon Chardin's 'The Cut Melon' from the Rothschild family after a failed auction sale at Christie's in Paris. The painting, valued at a record €26.7m during the auction, was initially purchased by an Italian bidder who defaulted, leading to legal action by Christie's. The museum's director expressed excitement over this acquisition, aiming to enhance its collection of French still lifes. The exact purchase amount remains undisclosed, but it's expected to be less than that auction price yet above standard estimates.
"The Cut Melon is one of the great masterpieces of 18th-century French painting," says Kimbell's director Eric Lee, who negotiated the deal with the Rothschild family, adding: "It is no secret that we have long hoped for a great Chardin still life for the Kimbell."
The painting was sold at auction by Christie's in Paris in June 2024 for a record €26.7m, the highest price ever obtained for a French 18th-century painting and the most expensive Old Master work ever sold in France.
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