This Spring, Sotheby’s will present a remarkable selection of Old Master drawings from the esteemed collection of Christian and Isabelle Adrien. The result of a lifetime of passion for painting and drawing, the cherished pieces in the collection together offer one of the most fascinating insights into the act of drawing seen in recent years. The viewer is taken on a special journey – guided by an avid curiosity and demand for the highest calibre of draughtsmanship – from the 15th century to the last luminaries of the 18th century, across the Italian, French, Dutch and Flemish schools. A landmark event in the field of Old Master drawings in Europe, the sale will present collectors with a rare opportunity to acquire such exceptional works. The auction will take place on 22 March at Sotheby’s in Paris, coinciding with the renowned Salon du Dessin art fair.

In 2012, the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Rennes (Brittany) hosted a major exhibition to showcase the manifold merits of the collection. Eminent scholars from across the globe contributed to the catalogue, with the depth of research reflecting both the quality of the collection and the regular exchanges between the collector, scholars and specialists in the field of Old Master drawings. Indeed, the personal knowledge of Christian Adrien himself led to a number of major, and unexpected, discoveries.

Each work in the auction illustrates the outstanding skill and talent of great masters such as Salviati, Bassano, the Carracci, Poussin, Lemoyne, Le Brun, Boucher and Rubens. Many of the drawings possess prestigious provenance, including the collection of celebrated French art historian and dealer Pierre-Jean Mariette and Sir Thomas Lawrence, the leading British portrait painter of the early 19th century.

The collection is also remarkable for the variety of mediums and techniques featured. Highlights include a two-tone study by Jacopo Bassano (Virgin and Child, estimate: €25,000-35,000) and a Seated nude man in profile by Francesco Salviati (estimate: €60,000-80,000) and nude studies by Baccio Bandinelli.