Paris – A long-lost painting attributed to Peter Paul Rubens sold for €2.5m ($2.7m) at auction in Paris on Saturday, exceeding pre-sale estimates. The work, depicting the crucified Christ, was authenticated by German art historian Nils Büttner and had been missing from public view for centuries.
The rediscovery and sale of this Rubens painting is significant because it represents a rare depiction of Christ’s death by the master of the Flemish baroque. Rubens frequently painted crucifixions, but rarely showed “the crucified Christ as a dead body on the cross,” according to Büttner. The painting’s provenance was traced through family ownership dating back to the 19th century, after being acquired by French academic painter William-Adolphe Bouguereau.
the auction house, osenat, said the painting’s existence was initially documented through an engraving made by a contemporary of Rubens, with historians cataloging it despite never having seen the original. The total price, including fees and buyer’s premium, reached €2.94m ($3.41m).
Osenat confirmed the painting’s authenticity through X-ray imaging and pigment analysis. Büttner noted the painting is unique in its depiction of “blood and water coming out of the side wound of Christ,” a detail Rubens only included once in his work.
Measuring 105.5 by 72.5cm (42 by 29 inches), the painting is believed to have been originally commissioned by a private collector, rather than the Church, despite Rubens’ frequent religious commissions.
