Bonhams, one of the world’s largest and most renowned auctioneers, will be organizing their 38th biannual “Greek Sale” auction in Paris on May 19.

In acknowledgement of the 200-year anniversary of the start of the Greek Revolution, this year’s auction will feature several works inspired by the Greek War of Independence, and the years of Ottoman occupation leading up to it.

The centerpiece, La captive by Théodore Ralli (1852-1909), depicts a young Greek girl held prisoner by soldiers of the Ottoman Empire.

In a press release from Bonhams, Greek art specialist Anastasia Orfanidou was quoted saying: “Although La captive was painted in 1885, many years after the event it depicts, the work found a ready audience who recognized Ralli’s ability to capture not only the poignancy of the moment but also the cause of freedom from tyranny everywhere. It is a remarkable painting which, like other works in the sale inspired by the Greek Revolution, retains its powerful impact. It is particularly fitting that this work leads our first Greek sale in Paris, a city where Ralli enjoyed so much success and esteem.”

Renowned as one of Ralli’s best works, the price is estimated at €300,000-500,000.

Other notable artwork for sale inspired by the Greek revolution include: Le héros Karaiskakis en guerre avec Kioutachis by Theofilos Hadjimichael (1871-1934), showing commander Georgios Karaiskakis on horseback, pursuing the Turk Reshid Mehmed Pasha, estimated at €80,000-120,000; two war hero portraits by Theofilos Hadjimichael: Le héros Odysseas Androutsos and The fearless Katsantonis, estimated at €30,000-50,000 and €22,000-28,000 respectively; and a striking work by Nikos Engonopoulos (1907-1985), inspired by the Greek revolution at the outbreak of the World War II, titled Sur la guerre d’ Indépendance / Paysage orphique, estimated at €140,000-180,000.

Also for sale are several works by, among others, Yiannis Moralis (1916-2009), Constantinos Volanakis (1837-1907), Dimitris Mytaras (1934-2017), Alecos Fassianos (born 1935), and Nikos Hadjikyriakos-Ghika.

The auction, which is organized in cooperation with Greek art consultancy, Art Expertise, will take place in Paris as part of Bonhams recent expansion in France (and for the convenience of European buyers), and selected works from the sale will be on preview at 4 Rue de la Paix in Paris on May 14 and 17-18, as well as on 36 Amalias Avenue in Athens, on May 5-9.