€50m Courbet shared between Qatar and Paris
October 24 2025
Picture: Musée d’Orsay
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The Musée d’Orsay has displayed Gustave Courbet's Le Désespéré as part of a special sharing agrement between the institution and the Qatar Museums (spotted via @rohangreyfa). The work was last on public display in Paris 17 years ago, and had since been sold by one of the artist's descendants around 10 years ago for a reported €50m as part of a special sharing deal between the museums. The following article suggests the deal was brokered due to the fact the work does not have a French export permit, so the picture will be on a 5-year rotating loan and will head out to Doha in 2030.
