Christie's has announced its sale of Paul Cezanne's masterpiece Vie sur L'Estaque et La Chateau d'If on February 4 in London.
 Cezanne often drew inspiration from the landscape surrounding L'Estaque |
The work presents a scarce opportunity, with quality Cezanne works rarely found at auction despite strong demand. His The Card Players is the world's most valuable painting, having sold for between $250m and $300m to the Qatari royal family in 2011.
The present work will be offered with an £8-12m ($12.4m-18.7m) estimate in Christie's Impressionist and Modern Art Evening Sale.
The work was created circa 1883-1885 during one of Cezanne's final visits to L'Estaque in his native Provence. It was later acquired by Samuel Courtauld, founder of the Courtauld Gallery and London's Institute of Art.
"Acquired in 1936 by one of the 20th century's greatest connoisseurs, the inspirational patron of the arts and generous philanthropist Samuel Courtauld, the provenance of this outstanding painting is exemplary," commented Christie's head of impressionist art, Jay Vincze.
"His legacy through the Courtauld Gallery and Institute continues to enrich and inform contemporary culture today and his early recognition of Cezanne's genius gave rise to the greatest public collection of the artist's work in Britain."
Please sign up to our free newsletter for more exciting news about art auctions.
