French Authorities Halt Auction of Rare Hans Baldung Grien Drawing, Declaring It National Treasure

The French culture ministry has prevented the auction of a recently authenticated drawing by German Renaissance artist Hans Baldung Grien. Scheduled for March 23 at Drouot Paris by auction house Beaussant Lefèvre, the work was declared a national treasure on March 21, imposing a 30-month export ban. The small silverpoint portrait from 1517 depicts Susanna Pfeffinger and had an estimated value of €1.5-3 million. Experts including Patrick de Bayser, Christof Metzger, and Dorit Schäfer confirmed the attribution, noting its rarity as one of only about a dozen known silverpoint portraits by Baldung. The ministry's decision aims to allow French institutions time to acquire the artwork, which has remained with the sitter's family for five centuries.