Long-lost Watteau masterpiece set for record price

LONDON (Reuters) - A painting by French master Jean-Antoine Watteau, missing for 160 years, has been found in a private house in England and will go on sale in July priced at three to five million pounds -- a record for the artist's work.

"La Surprise," painted around 1718 and described as one of Watteau's most beautiful works, was last recorded in a probate valuation in 1848 when it was bequeathed to the family of the current owners, who had no idea what they had.

"It was found during a routine valuation in the corner of a small sitting room in an English country house. It is slightly larger than a sheet of A4 paper," said a spokesman for auction house Christie's. He declined to give any more details.

The current record for a Watteau is the 2.4 million pounds ($4.75 million) paid in December 2000 for "Le Conteur."

Watteau, who died in 1721 aged just 36, is credited with having spurred a revival of interest in color and movement in painting that became known as the Rococo style.

Inspired by Italian theatre, among Watteau's most famous works are "Pierrot" and "Fetes Venitiennes."

"La Surprise," which depicts a seated actor playing a guitar glancing to his right at a seated couple amorously embracing, was painted when Watteau was at the height of his powers.

The only other known version of the painting, previously thought to be the only one still in existence, is a copy in the Royal Collection at Buckingham Palace.

The painting will go on sale in London on July 8.

(Reporting by Jeremy Lovell; Editing by Catherine Evans)