Acquisition of the Banquet of Dido and Aeneas by François de Troy for Sceaux

François de Troy (1645-1730)
The Banquet of Didon and Aeneas, 1702
Oil on canvas - 160 x 230 cm
Sceaux, Musée de l’Histoire de France

27/8/08 — Acquisition — Sceaux, Musée de l’Ile de France — Last February, the Ministry of Culture had published an announcement for a fundraising appeal in the Journal Officiel for the acquisition by the Musée de l’Ile-de-France in Sceaux of a painting by François de Troy, The Banquet of Dido and Aeneas (ill.). We invite our readers to consult the news item of 25/2/08 concerning the historical background of the canvas and its interest for the museum.
The company Total has known how to benefit from fiscal deductions by acquring national treasures such as this one and allowing them to enter French public collections. The painting was purchased for 1,450,000 €. It will hang in the museum starting next September 18th.

In concluding, we would like to point out that the museum has recently opened an Internet website as well as a database of its collections which are now accessible online.