The Facts
On November 5, 2026, Millon announced the sale of Jean Hélion's monumental painting 'Petite musique de nuit' (1966-1967) in its November 24, 2026 auction in Paris. The work, estimated at €300,000 to €500,000, measures three by five meters and depicts a Bastille Day night scene on Belle-Île. It was exhibited at the Grand Palais in 1970-1971 and at Galerie Gérald Piltzer in 1995, and comes from a private collection after passing through the artist's estate in 1987. The painting has been documented in monographs by Henry-Claude Cousseau and Jean-Dominique Rey.
The Signal
The painting represents a pivotal moment in Hélion's career, marking his return to figuration after early abstraction, executed on an unusually large single canvas rather than the triptychs he often used. Its strong provenance and exhibition history—including a major retrospective—enhance its appeal to collectors of postwar French art. The estimate reflects the rarity of such large-scale works from this period at auction, positioning the piece as a significant market event for Hélion's oeuvre.
- Artists: Jean Hélion
- Galleries: Galerie Géral Piltzer
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