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A extraordinary canvas from this renowned surrealist artist Magritte that has remained within one private collection for more than nine decades will go to be sold in late October.

The Captivating Story Of the Painting

The painting was originally acquired by the relatives belonging to Suzanne Spaak, a World War II underground heroine who acted as Magritte's patron during a period when he was struggling financially and had failed to move a single work for two years.

She was shot at the hands of the Gestapo in Paris for her actions to help young Jewish individuals find safety.

Sale Projections and Anticipations

The fine art firm has estimated which the artwork may fetch in the range of five million euros to €7m, however experts anticipate that it will achieve a much higher price.

This is the first time I have handled an important piece by Magritte which has stayed in the same household since it was painted,” remarked an senior auction house executive. “It is remarkable, as is the history behind the owners.”

The official further referred to this work by saying the superstar in surrealist art,” noting that Were you to ask a group of students to do a presentation about surrealism, this painting by itself could be enough to explain it.”

The Artist's Formative Struggles with Professional Growth

This Belgian-born painter first was employed as an artist in a wallpaper plant also created commercial ads until 1926, at which point he produced his first surrealist work.

A year later, he held his first show in the Belgian capital, but reviewers were savage and disheartened the artist relocated to France, in which he was unable to make a name for himself.

Magritte returned to Belgium in 1930 where he established an advertising agency with his sibling Paul.

The artist's life was quite hard during that period. The economic crisis which began in 1929 in America hit the French economy by the early 1930s. For two years, from 1930 and 1932, he sold nothing and held no exhibitions,” the expert stated.

No one was buying paintings by surrealists. These artists were viewed as radical troublemakers.”

The Influence of the Patrons

The spouse, Claude, a celebrated Belgian playwright, knew Magritte acting as a patron, ordering paintings of Suzanne and children and arranging regular financial support for the artist and his household.

By 1934, the sibling Alice, known as Bunny, bought La Magie Noire to mark the birth of her newborn with Emile, an industrial industrialist.

This family represented for Belgium what the Mountbattens were for Britain; almost aristocratic and they helped Magritte out of difficulty,” the expert said. “It was bought to commemorate the birth of a baby but it was a rebirth for the painter as he was trying to recover financially.”

Painting Features and Symbolism

The model in this series had been his spouse, Georgette, who is portrayed in a classical manner resembling a marble statue resting her hand on a stone block.

Her upper body gradually blends with the sky behind her whereas her lower body retains its realistic coloring.

The artist later created ten comparable works, many of them received different names. In this work, the initial of the series, Berger is portrayed with a dove perched on her shoulder.

One-third of the backdrop displays a partially paneled interior wall.

Suzanne Spaak’s Heroic Resistance Activities

Suzanne and Claude Spaak were living in Paris at the outbreak of war in the late 1930s.

Following the German takeover of Paris, Suzanne joined the resistance and was a participant of the intelligence network spy ring.

Spaak used her wealth to save 163 Jewish children from deportation, hiding a number of them at her home until they were relocated to secure locations.

Final End and Historical Impact

By late 1943, the Nazis arrested Spaak along with 600 members of the network.

On 12 August 1944, days before the liberation of Paris, Nazi agents executed Spaak in captivity. She had been 38 years old and has since recognized by Israel among the Righteous for her efforts to save Jewish lives.

The artist died of pancreatic cancer in August 1967 and is buried in the Belgian capital.

Display with Sale Schedule

The painting, which has been displayed in the Magritte Museum in Belgium, has seldom been exhibited abroad in more than 90 years.

The piece will be shown at Paris from 17 and 23 October prior to the auction on 24 October.