At the Salon du Dessin, Souren Melikian thinks he’s found the near-perfect art fair. He’s also discovered two works that sold for the same round price:

At just under €300,000, or about $400,000, the rare Fragonard masterpiece grabbed by a collector on the opening day was one of the inspired buys at the Salon. […]

On the stand of Talabardon & Gautier of Paris, the star drawing is a portrait of his brother René signed by Degas in 1855. The artist is best known for his participation in the Impressionist Salons, even though he never really belonged to the movement. The likeness of his brother was done at the height of his Classical phase in a manner that betrays his admiration for Ingres. Made particularly rare by the signature seldom found on drawings from this period, the portrait priced at around €300,0000 went to a collector at the private view.

Drawing Outside of the Lines of the Times (New York Times)