Rare Rimbaud Portrait by Verlaine Sells for Record €585,000 in Paris

The 1872 sketch, created during the poets' tumultuous relationship, far exceeded initial auction estimates.

The sketch, drawn by Paul Verlaine and depicting Arthur Rimbaud at age 17, was sold at Hôtel Drouot after intense bidding.
The €585,000 sale set a new record for a Verlaine drawing, surpassing its initial estimate of €100,000–€200,000.
The ink drawing, dated June 1872, portrays Rimbaud smoking a pipe and was created from Verlaine's memory during their time together.
The artwork has remained in private collections for over 130 years, last owned by Hugues Gall, former director of the Paris Opera, who passed away in May 2024.
The sale highlights the enduring legacy of Rimbaud and Verlaine, whose passionate and turbulent relationship shaped their groundbreaking poetry.