Lost Masterpiece Unveiled After a Century Hidden from the Public

A forgotten treasure by French Impressionist master Pierre-Auguste Renoir has resurfaced in Paris after spending more than a century hidden in private hands.

The oil painting, “The Child and His Toys – Gabrielle and the Artist’s Son, Jean,” captures an intimate domestic moment between Renoir’s young son, Jean—who would later become a legendary filmmaker—and his devoted nanny, Gabrielle Renard.

Created between 1890 and 1895, the 54×65 cm canvas remained in the family of Jeanne Baudot, Renoir’s only pupil and close friend, before being passed down to French Resistance hero Jean Griot and his heirs.

Never before exhibited or documented in the renowned Wildenstein archives, the painting has now been authenticated and will go under the hammer on November 25 at the Hôtel Drouot in Paris, with an estimated value of €1–1.5 million.

Experts hail it as one of Renoir’s most emotionally resonant works—an artwork that bridges art history, family legacy, and rediscovery.