La Nuit, which will be offered in Bonhams' 2nd March 19th Century European, Victorian and British Impressionist Art sale with an estimate of £80,000-120,000, is one of the finest examples of Henri Fantin-Latour's dramatic break away from the conservative style that dominated most of his life's work.

Towards the end of his career, when he had gained enough recognition to be freed from the necessity of painting for commission, the acclaimed French painter's work moved into the expressive, poetic realms of the imagination.

Famed primarily for his beautifully realistic portraits and still-lifes – A Basket of Roses (1890) was used as the cover of New Order's 1983 album, Power, Corruption & Lies, because designer Peter Saville considered the work to be so powerfully seductive – Fantin-Latour's true artistic passion lay in the dreamlike qualities of his later works. The spontaneous execution and delicate colour harmonies in La Nuit depict a mythological sensuality and a deeply romantic inspiration that mark what can almost be described as a revolution in the French master's oeuvre.

"It is incredibly rare to see a pastel by Fantin-Latour of this scale and quality, and it is particularly exciting to be offering such a beautiful picture which has not been on the open market for nearly sixty years", said Charles O'Brien, Bonhams Director of 19th Century Paintings. "But more than anything, there is something wondrous about seeing a drawing so closely tied to the artist's personality, his interests in music and literature, and his creative genius."

The present lot is the original pastel version of a smaller oil painting of the same image in the collection of the Musée d'Orsay in Paris. Bought in 1958 for £480, La Nuit has been in a private collection for more than half a century.

The 2nd March sale will take place at Bonhams New Bond Street.