After biddings started at 300 FF (US $ 49) a drawing heightened with watercolour representing an Italian peasant holding a child in his arms went for 1025 000 FF (US $ 170,000) not inclusive of buyer's premium at Drouot on January 28th 1998. This surprising bid reached during an ordinary auction sale was explained by the fact that the buyer and his main rivals were certain the drawing was by Théodore Géricault (1791-1824). However, according to well-informed sources the authorship was turned down by the Wildenstein Institute in charge of authentications for Gericault's works...
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