Louvre Steps in to Snap Up Historic Sculpture at Auction
France's Louvre museum stepped in Monday and snapped up a historic sculpture for its collection after it was auctioned off for 3.75 million euros ($4.68 million).
A private collector had successfully bid, via telephone, or the marble bust by 18th century sculptor Edme Bouchardon at Drouot's auction house in Paris, when the museum exercised its prerogative to claim the work for the state.
Under French law it has the right to do so, by offering the final auction price, in order to keep articles of particular interest in the country.
Claude Aguttes, the auctioneer, told Agence France Presse he had led the hall in a round of applause when the museum stepped in to bring the piece under state ownership and make it available for public view.
Bouchardon's bust is of Charles Frederic de La Tour du Pin, the marquis of Gouvernet and had been put up for auction by one of his descendants.
Source: Agence France Presse
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