The museum’s Julie Van Deun is pleased that the work fetched a ‘correct’ price: “I stayed in Belgium, but was up all night. The 2.4 million is a record for a work of this nature from the seventies.”

The foundation is pleased the work has been snapped up by an art collector rather than an investor: “This is Delvaux’ spirit. He couldn’t understand the amounts people were willing to spend on art.”

The Delvaux Museum based in the resort of St Idesbald currently has a staff of four. It now intends to recruit a fifth staff member to seek out new sponsors. It will continue work on projects aimed at restoring Delvaux canvases and is still looking for a building in Brussels where a Delvaux showcase can be installed to allow short term exhibitions.

Flandersnews.be / Expatica