A long-lost masterpiece by the Baroque giant Peter Paul Rubens, unseen for over four hundred years, has been sold at auction for a staggering €2.3 million (£2 million). The dramatic sale took place at the Osenat auction house in Versailles on Sunday, 30 November 2025.
The Rediscovery of a Hidden Treasure
The painting, which depicts the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, was recently uncovered in a private townhouse in Paris. For decades, it had languished in a French collection, mistakenly believed to be the work of one of Rubens' many workshop assistants. Consequently, its value was never estimated above €10,000. Auctioneer Jean-Pierre Osenat recounted his initial suspicion, telling The Associated Press: "I immediately had a hunch about this painting, and I did everything I could to try to have it authenticated." His perseverance paid off when the work was officially verified by the Rubenianum, the official Rubens committee based in Antwerp.
A Unique Artistic Vision by Rubens
Art historian Nils Büttner, a renowned expert on the Flemish master, highlighted the painting's exceptional nature. He explained that while Rubens painted several crucifixion scenes, he rarely depicted Christ as a dead body on the cross. This particular work is singular in Rubens' oeuvre for its graphic portrayal of the moment a Roman soldier pierced Christ's side. "This is the one and only painting showing blood and water coming out of the side wound of Christ," Büttner stated, "and this is something that Rubens only painted once."
Scientific Analysis Confirms Authenticity
The Osenat auction house confirmed the painting's provenance and authenticity through rigorous scientific examination. A microscopic study of the paint layers revealed a distinctive palette. In the areas representing flesh, analysts found not just the expected white, black, and red pigments, but also characteristic blue and green pigments—a hallmark technique Rubens used to realistically render human skin tone.
Art expert Eric Turquin addressed a packed saleroom, revealing the artwork's mysterious history. The painting had virtually vanished from records in the early 1600s. It later resurfaced in the collection of the celebrated 19th-century French classical painter, William Bouguereau, before being passed down through his family, its true identity forgotten until now.
The remarkable sale marks the triumphant conclusion to a centuries-old art historical mystery, returning a unique and powerful work by one of history's greatest painters to the public eye and securing its place in a new private collection.
