A painting by the legendary Baroque artist Peter Paul Rubens, missing for over four centuries, has been sold at auction for a staggering 2.3 million euros (approximately $2.7 million). The sale took place on Sunday at the Osenat auction house in Versailles, France, marking a dramatic conclusion to the artwork's incredible journey from obscurity to multi-million-euro masterpiece.
From Parisian Townhouse to Auction Block
The artwork, titled "Crucifixion of Jesus Christ," was recently discovered in a private townhouse in Paris. For years, it was part of a French collection and was believed to be a product of one of the many workshops that operated under Rubens's name during his prolific career. In that context, its value was estimated at a mere 10,000 euros ($11,500).
However, auctioneer Jean-Pierre Osenat had a strong suspicion about the painting's true origins. "I immediately had a hunch about this painting, and I did everything I could to try to have it authenticated," Osenat told The Associated Press. His perseverance paid off when the work was examined and confirmed by the Rubenianum, the official Rubens committee based in Antwerp, Belgium.
A Unique and Authentic Masterpiece
The authentication process involved rigorous scientific analysis. The Osenat auction house reported that a microscopic examination of the paint layers revealed not just the expected white, black, and red pigments, but also the distinctive blue and green pigments that Rubens famously used to paint human skin, a hallmark of his technique.
Art expert Eric Turquin informed a packed auction room that the painting had virtually disappeared from historical records in the early 1600s. Its provenance was later traced to the 19th-century French classical painter William Bouguereau, from whom it was passed down through his family.
A Rare Depiction by the Baroque Master
According to Rubens expert Nils Büttner, the painting is particularly significant. While Rubens often painted crucifixion scenes, he rarely depicted "the crucified Christ as a dead body on the cross." Büttner emphasized the painting's unique iconography, stating, "So 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."
The sale for 2.3 million euros not only sets a new market value for the work but also restores a singular piece of art history to its rightful place among Rubens's authenticated oeuvre. Its rediscovery and authentication underscore how masterpieces can remain hidden in plain sight for generations before being recognized for their true worth.
