“La Jeunesse de Bacchus” took Bouguereau almost three years to paint, and he did it without the benefit of assistants. He priced the work at 100,000 francs — an astronomical sum at the time that would have made it one of the most expensive paintings ever sold, Mr. Doller said — and he received an offer of 70,000 francs, but rejected it.

“He said, ‘I get so much enjoyment, I’ll just keep it,’” Mr. Doller said. His descendants were wealthy enough to leave it where it was, but eventually the current generation decided to sell.

That led to the beginning of the Bouguer-rodeo in January.

It took two and a half days for a Paris-based conservator and shipping crew to pack it up, starting with building scaffolding just to get the painting off the wall. The process was almost delayed by snow, which stopped just in time for the crane operator to lift the components outside.

Three crates were necessitated — one each for the frame, stretcher and canvas — and together they weighed almost two tons.

When they arrived in New York, the crate holding the canvas was opened by Sotheby’s art handlers, and a group peered inside. Concerned looks turned to smiles. The painting roller had a thin white plastic covering to protect it, and it was tied with five perfect bows.