The French actor, famous for his roles in classic films such as "À plein soleil", "La Piscine" or "Le Samouraï", had another hobby beyond cinema: art collecting.

Delon bought his first drawing in 1964 in London and since then he kept collecting drawings, paintings and sculptures. He never collected artworks for investment, but for his own pleasure. In fact, he resold some of his pieces to acquire other better quality pieces.

“Au fil des années, j'ai acquis des dessins, des tableaux et des sculptures qui ont su m'émouvoir, me parler et même parfois me consoler. Ces œuvres m'ont accompagné pendant de nombreuses années et ont fait partie de ma vie”, said Delon.

“Au fil des années, j'ai acquis des dessins, des tableaux et des sculptures qui ont su m'émouvoir, me parler et même parfois me consoler. Ces œuvres m'ont accompagné pendant de nombreuses années et ont fait partie de ma vie"

"Over the years, I have acquired drawings, paintings and sculptures that have inspired me, spoken to me and sometimes even comforted me. These works have accompanied me for many years and have been part of my life."

Alain Delon's collection will finally go up for auction on June this year at Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr in Paris, but before that, the private collection will be shown around the world: Brussels, New York, Hong Kong and finally Geneva.

Delon's daughter Anouchka stated: “Ces œuvres merveilleuses ont bercé mon enfance. Aujourd'hui, je suis infiniment heureuse que le monde les découvre, après toutes ces années passées dans l'intimité de la collection de mon père. Je sais qu'elles ont été pour lui de fidèles compagnons, qu'elles lui ont procuré des joies immenses. Aujourd'hui, et c'est le destin de toute œuvre d'art, elles vont partir vers de nouveaux horizons, rejoindre d'autres collections. Je souhaite de tout cœur qu'elles soient regardées avec autant d'amour qu'elles l'ont été ces soixante dernières années”.

"These wonderful artworks have cradled my childhood. Today, I am infinitely happy that the world will see them, after all these years spent in the intimacy of my father's collection. I know that they were faithful companions for him, that they gave him immense joy. Today, as it is the fate of all artworks, they will move on to new horizons, to other collections. I hope with all my heart that they will be looked at with as much love as they have been for the last sixty years".

"Je souhaite de tout cœur qu'elles soient regardées avec autant d'amour qu'elles l'ont été ces soixante dernières années”.

"I hope with all my heart that they will be looked at with as much love as they have been for the last sixty years"

Alain Delon's collector's eye became increasingly keen throughout his acquisitions, although he was already trained and talented from the beginning.

He began collecting antique drawings, but was mainly interested in the academic movements of the 19th and 20th centuries. His favorite triangle was Millet, Délacroix and Géricault, but after this classical period, the actor turned towards post war abstraction.

He began collecting antique drawings, but was mainly interested in the academic movements of the 19th and 20th centuries. His favorite triangle was Millet, Délacroix and Géricault, but after this classical period, the actor turned towards post war abstraction.

The auction catalog includes great masterpieces, from remarkable Italian Renaissance drawings to great names in the History of Art: Veronese, Camille Corot, Delacroix, Millet, Dufy, Gleizes among others.

Besides working with famous directors such as Luchino Visconti, Jean-Luc Godard, Jean-Pierre Melville, Michelangelo Antonioni, and Louis Malle, Delon also held in his hands works of great painters, which made the actor a person constantly surrounded by art and culture.

Besides working with famous directors such as Luchino Visconti, Jean-Luc Godard, Jean-Pierre Melville, Michelangelo Antonioni, and Louis Malle, Delon also held in his hands works of great painters