'Portrait of a man', who was 18th-century Corsican independence leader, goes on sale

A rare portrait of Pascal Paoli, the pioneering Corsican independence leader who played a pivotal role in shaping the island's modern constitution, is set to go under the hammer for the first time since its creation in the late 18th century. Completed just before Paoli's death, the oil on canvas painting by Sir William Beechey measures over six feet tall and is considered one of the most significant works on the subject.

Paoli, who earned the nickname "U Babbu di a Patria" (Father of the Fatherland), was a key figure in Corsican history, declaring the island's independence from Genoese rule between 1755 and 1769. He founded a university, introduced representative democracy, and wrote a constitution heavily influenced by Enlightenment ideas.

Despite his significant contributions to European liberty, Paoli has largely faded into obscurity outside of Corsica. The painting had been held by a private collector on the Mediterranean island for over 25 years, with only a handful of people ever having laid eyes on it.

This month's auction marks the 300th anniversary of Paoli's birth and promises to be a significant event in Corsican cultural history. Vincent Bronzini de Caraffa, the auctioneer tasked with selling the painting, describes it as "far more than a work of art" and highlights its importance in understanding the island's unique identity and the ideals of European freedom.

The sale comes as Corsica seeks to reclaim its rich heritage in the face of rising nationalism across Europe. According to De Caraffa, Corsicans should feel invested in preserving the cultural significance of this masterpiece and ensuring that it remains accessible to future generations.

Paoli's story is one of remarkable resilience and conviction, having faced down French invasion and British treachery on multiple occasions before ultimately losing power. His legacy serves as a powerful reminder of the enduring importance of individual freedoms and national identity.

The painting will be displayed at a special exhibition in Bastia on Thursday and Friday before going to auction in December.

I'm low-key obsessed with this rare portrait of Pascal Paoli ! The fact that it's been hidden away for so long is mind-blowing, especially considering its significance in Corsican history . It's crazy to think that someone who played such a pivotal role in shaping the island's modern constitution has kinda faded into obscurity outside of Corsica .

I think this auction is super important for Corsica, you know? It's like, they're trying to reclaim their heritage and preserve this masterpiece for future generations . And can we talk about how cool it is that the sale coincides with Paoli's 300th birthday anniversary? What a way to celebrate his legacy!

Anyway, I hope whoever buys this painting does some good with it – maybe donate it to a Corsican museum or something? That would be amazing .

Dude, I'm telling you, this painting is not just about Pascal Paoli's life, it's like, a blueprint for the Western world's rebellion against tyranny . Think about it, he was all about representative democracy and individual freedoms, that's like, super influential stuff. And the fact that it's been hidden away in some private collector's basement for 25 years is just too suspicious, you know? I mean, what if someone wanted to keep its significance from getting out?

And have you seen the picture? It's massive, over six feet tall! That's not just art, that's like, a statement. A statement about the power of human resilience and conviction. And now it's going up for auction, I'm sure some deep-pocketed collector is gonna snap it up without even realizing the cultural significance .

I'm actually kinda worried that once it changes hands, we'll lose this piece of history forever. What if the new owner doesn't care about its legacy? What if they just wanna use it to make a quick profit? That's what I find so sketchy, you know?

This painting is like no other, its history is so deep it's almost like a secret . Paoli was a true pioneer, and this artwork is proof of that. The fact that it's been hidden away for 25 years is crazy . I'm hoping whoever buys it will put it in a museum or something, so more people can see it . It's not just a painting, it's a piece of history . Corsica needs to be proud of its heritage right now .

I'm low-key surprised they're even selling this iconic portrait . I mean, it's not like Paoli was some boring old politician or anything... he was literally the "Father of the Fatherland"! His legacy is still super relevant today, and it's crazy that this masterpiece has been stuck in private hands for 25 years .

I'm all for Corsica reclaiming its heritage, but let's be real, we've already got tons of masterpieces and historical artifacts just chillin' in museums around the world . This one might get lost in translation or become some cheesy tourist trap if it sells to the highest bidder . Let's hope whoever buys it decides to display it proudly and make it accessible to the public instead of hiding it away from view .

On a totally unrelated note, can we talk about how underappreciated Sir William Beechey is as an artist? I mean, he was basically a 18th-century version of Instagram... .

Man, this Pascal Paoli portrait is gonna fetch some serious cash ! I mean, can you believe it's been 25 years stuck in one private collector's hands? It's like finding a rare vinyl record from back in the day . You gotta respect the significance of this piece, though - it's like looking at history come alive . And with the auction happening on Paoli's 300th birthday, you can bet it's gonna be a cultural big deal ️. I wonder what kind of vibes the painting is giving off? Hopefully, whoever buys it will keep it in Corsica and not sell it to some anonymous collector who'll just stash it away in their dungeon . Anyway, gotta stay tuned for this auction - sounds like it's gonna be a wild ride !

omg i'm literally dying over this!! a rare portrait of pascal paoli is finally up for auction!! like, the guy was a total game changer for corsica and his legacy is so inspiring!!! i've been learning about him in school and i'm obsessed now . the fact that it's been hidden away from the public eye for 25 years is just wild - can you imagine seeing this painting in person?! it's crazy that corsica is trying to reclaim its heritage at the same time as there's rising nationalism across europe... like, totally important that we preserve our cultural significance!!! paoli's story is so admirable and his legacy is still so relevant today - individual freedoms are what matter!

I just got back from the most random road trip with friends and we saw this insane street art mural in some tiny village that was literally a giant representation of our favorite snack - Cheetos ! I mean, who doesn't love cheese dust on their fingers, right? Anyway, it got me thinking about how some of the most iconic pieces of art are actually just cleverly hidden in plain sight. Like this Paoli portrait, for instance. It's massive and important, but has it been seen by enough people outside of Corsica? I hope it gets a good home soon. And omg have you tried those new Cheetos flavors?

man i'm so down for this like how cool is it that we get to see one of the most iconic paintings from history go under the hammer? Paoli's story is wild too, like who knew he was such a big deal outside of corsica? I've always been fascinated by the enlightenment era and how it shaped europe. this painting is literally a piece of history

i feel bad for paoli tho, i mean he founded a university and wrote a constitution that influenced european liberty but then he just kinda... disappears from the scene maybe it's because we only learn about him in corsican history books? anyway, i hope this auction helps bring more attention to his legacy and corsica's rich heritage.

i love how vincent bronzini de caraffa is all about preserving paoli's cultural significance and making sure it gets passed down to future generations that's what it's all about, right?

Dude, this is huge ! I mean, think about it - we're talking about a guy who basically paved the way for modern democracy and independence movements all over Europe. And yet, he's almost forgotten outside of Corsica? It's like, what happened to his legacy? Was it just lost in the sands of time?

And now, this painting is coming up for auction, with the 300th anniversary of Paoli's birth being a major milestone. I think this is a huge opportunity for Corsica to reclaim its heritage and show the world what it means to be an independent nation.

But let's not forget, this is also a reminder of how politics can shape our collective memory. If we don't make an effort to preserve and celebrate our history, who will? It's like, what's next - does everyone just forget about the struggles and sacrifices made by people like Paoli?

Anyway, I think it's awesome that Vincent Bronzini de Caraffa is hyping up this auction as a chance for Corsicans to own a piece of their history. Let's hope this sale brings some much-needed attention to the island and its rich cultural heritage