The magnificent "Basket of Wild Strawberries" (1761) by Jean-Baptiste-Siméon Chardin, recently acquired by the Louvre for 24.3 million euros, is making an exceptional stop at the Museum of Fine Arts in Orléans. This vibrant still life painting, classified as a national treasure, is serving as the centerpiece for a compact exhibition that sheds light on other Chardin works from the same Orléans collection - that of the Marcille family, who recognized the visionary modernity of this painter in the 19th century and helped rescue him from obscurity.
Orléans managed to secure this delicious artistic treat at the last minute. The appetizing still life, put up for sale in 2022 and acquired by the Louvre for the substantial sum of 24.3 million euros - including 1.6 million raised from public donations, a record amount - was originally scheduled to return to Paris after being exhibited in Lens, Clermont-Ferrand, and Brest. However, the Museum of Fine Arts in Orléans successfully negotiated with the Parisian institution to have the precious painting make one final stop within its walls as the main attraction of a small but particularly meaningful exhibition for the city.
This delightful piece, with its vibrant touches of red painted on canvas measuring 38 x 46 cm, actually originates from an Orléans collection whose history is intimately connected to the museum - that of the Marcille family. The painting's significance was completely rediscovered following its cleaning and restoration, revealing details that had been hidden for generations. As exhibition curator Olivia Voisin, director of the Orléans museums and chief heritage curator specializing in 19th-century art, explains the remarkable transformation in the painting's perceived value over time.
"The painting was totally rediscovered after its cleaning and restoration," Voisin recounts. "In the 19th century, when it was in the Marcille collection, it wasn't considered an important painting at all. It was hung where the family took their meals. There was even a tear because the children had played darts on it!" This anecdote perfectly illustrates how artistic appreciation can evolve dramatically over time, with what was once considered merely decorative household art now recognized as a masterpiece worth millions.
The exhibition represents a unique opportunity for the Museum of Fine Arts in Orléans to showcase not only this newly celebrated masterpiece but also to highlight the broader story of the Marcille collection and its crucial role in preserving Chardin's legacy. The Marcille family's prescient collecting in the 19th century helped maintain works by Chardin (1699-1779) during a period when his artistic contributions were not fully appreciated, ultimately contributing to the modern recognition of his innovative approach to still life painting that would influence generations of artists to come.
