One of the paintings auctioned in Papeete was Maternité II, a

smaller version of Maternité I in the Eremitage Museum. The

original was painted at the time his then vahine Pau'ura in

Punaauia gave birth to their son Emile. It is not known why he

painted the smaller copy. It was sold for 150 francs to a French

naval officer, Commandant Cochin, who said that Governor

Petit himself had bid up to 135 francs for the painting. It was

sold at Sotheby's for US$39,208,000 in 2004