Newly discovered James Ensor painting makes €1m at Vienna auction

A previously unknown painting by the Belgian artist James Ensor was the star lot in Dorotheum’s Modern art auction in Vienna on 31 May. Baptême de masques (1925-30), which is based on a contemporary photograph featuring the artist, vaulted over its high estimate of €500,000 selling for just over €1m (including buyer’s premium).
The work’s masquerade theme was a favourite of Ensor, whose family ran a souvenir and curiosity shop in the Belgian fishing village of