The Flight into Egypt

"The Flight into Egypt" painted by Nicolas Poussin around 1657-1658, is a renowned masterpiece with a compelling history. Once housed in the Musée du Louvre, the painting now resides in the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon. It is believed to have been inspired by a similar work by Annibale Carracci, an esteemed Italian Baroque painter.

The artwork's journey took an intriguing turn in 1986 when it was auctioned in Versailles. Starting at 80,000 francs, it eventually sold to Richard and Robert Pardo for an astonishing 1,600,000 francs. However, following an authentication process and an unfavorable legal dispute, the painting was returned to the original seller. The owner then attempted to sell it for over 15 million euros.

Determined to preserve this valuable piece in France, the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon initiated a fundraising campaign to purchase the painting. By July 2007, both the Louvre and the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon had successfully raised the necessary funds. They acquired the painting for a staggering 17 million euros, making it one of the most expensive artworks ever purchased through patronage.

The funds came from a diverse array of sources, including the Mayor of Lyon, the Rhône-Alpes region, the Musée du Louvre, corporations like Gaz de France and Total SA, banks, and even a private donor. Finally, in February 2008, the painting was officially acquired for the Louvre and subsequently transferred to the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon. This transfer held particular significance, as Jacques Sérisier, the original collector and likely patron of the painting, was a native of Lyon.