François-Louis Schmied (1873-1941)

The flamboyant artist became more reflective in his later years and moved away from rococo flourishes. This vibrant drawing attests to his interest in religious themes.

Claude-François Julliot (1727-1794) probably commissioned these two pieces of furniture stamped Joseph, which were in the Comte de Merle’s collection. They are beautiful examples of the resurgence of copper and tortoiseshell "Boulle" marquetry early in the Louis XVI period.

Painted when the artist was not yet famous, this seaside subject puts people at the center of the composition.

The allure of this painting—with its hidden double meaning—is a marvellous illustration of chinoiserie in the age of Louis XV, which took delight in fantasizing about Asia.

This portrait of Claude Le Blanc (1669-1728) reveals early 18th-century customs.

At a sale in Savoy, a rediscovered lost painting by Louis Lagrenée (1725-1805) rivaled a sumptuous lotus bowl from the Qianlong period.

This still life by François Desportes making its auction debut illustrates the influence of the Regent, a bon vivant and aesthete, barely a year after the Sun King's death. In excellent condition, the painting has been passed down through the family of the collector Louis Burat to the present day.

One of the famous set of wall hangings illustrating Les Amours des dieux (The Loves of the Gods), this Louis XV period tapestry of The Rape of Europa from the Beauvais factory was based on a cartoon by Boucher.

A specialist in the 18th century, but curious about other eras, François Hayem is parting with the fruit of a lifetime of research and finds at Drouot.

A dainty gold mount highlights the exquisite beauty of this small soft porcelain Vincennes milk jug with a scene based on a work by François Boucher.