A remarkable Peter Paul Rubens painting, lost to the art world for centuries, has been sold at auction in France for a staggering sum. The Flemish master's work, Christ on the Cross, fetched €2.3 million (approximately $2.7 million) at a sale in Versailles on Sunday, significantly surpassing its pre-sale estimate.
A Masterpiece Unearthed in a Paris Mansion
The extraordinary discovery was made last year by auctioneer Jean-Pierre Osenat. While preparing a private mansion in Paris for sale, Osenat unearthed the canvas, which had been painted by Rubens in 1613. The artwork had remained hidden within the property for over four hundred years. Osenat described the find as a "masterpiece" created when Rubens was "at the height of his talent."
The painting's journey to the auction block is a tale of scholarly detective work. Very little was historically known about the piece itself; only an engraving made by a peer of Rubens existed. Later art historians catalogued its existence based solely on this engraving. The work was later acquired by the 19th-century French academic painter William-Adolphe Bouguereau and passed down through his family.
Authentication and Unique Artistic Significance
The painting's authenticity was confirmed by leading German art historian Nils Büttner, an expert on the Flemish baroque. Provenance was certified using advanced techniques including X-ray imaging and pigment analysis. Büttner highlighted the work's unique place in Rubens's oeuvre, noting that while the artist often painted crucifixions, he rarely depicted "the crucified Christ as a dead body on the cross."
"This is the one and only painting showing blood and water coming out of the side wound of Christ, and this is something that Rubens only painted once," Büttner stated before the sale. Osenat added that the piece represents "the very beginning of baroque painting," with a luminous Christ standing out vividly against a dark, threatening sky.
Auction Success and Final Price
The auction house had set an expected price range of €1 to €2 million, but competitive bidding quickly drove the final hammer price to €2.3 million. With the addition of fees, including the buyer's premium, the total price paid rose to €2.94 million ($3.41 million).
Measuring 105.5 by 72.5cm (42 by 29 inches), the artwork was likely originally commissioned for a private collector, despite Rubens's many works for the Church. Its sensational rediscovery and subsequent sale mark a significant event in the art market, returning a pivotal work by one of history's great masters to public attention.
