Pierre Etienne

With 30 years of experience, Pierre joined Christie’s in 2018 as International Director of the Old Masters department. After training in economics, art, and communication, Pierre developed internationally recognized expertise working with the renowned Turquin firm. His research and publications have made him an indispensable expert in French painting of the 17th and 18th centuries.

As Vice President of Christie’s France, Pierre embodies Christie’s scientific, historical, and technical excellence. The world’s greatest private and institutional collections trust him for the purchase and sale of their artworks. For example, a sale of paintings from the Marcille collection allowed Pierre to set a record for a genre painting by Jean-Siméon Chardin as early as 2021.

In 2023, he achieved spectacular world records: in New York, for a painting by Gerrit Dou at the Rothschild Masterpieces sale ($7.1M), and in London, for a completely unprecedented work by Michael Sweerts on the market (£12.6M).

Pierre’s greatest passion is bringing masterpieces out of obscurity and neglect, restoring them to the light. In 2024, the sale in London of a “Guilty Pulcinella” by Giambattista Tiepolo (£2.5M) perfectly illustrates his talent as a discoverer: unknown for over 150 years, the work is now part of the Musée du Louvre’s collection.

 

Languages spoken: French, English 

Photo credit: ARR