Versailles Auction Nets €2.9 Million for Rediscovered rubens Masterpiece
A painting by Flemish master Peter Paul Rubens,missing for centuries,sold for €2.9 million at auction in Versailles today.The work, Christ on the Cross, resurfaced only months ago during an inventory of a Parisian mansion, captivating the art world and driving intense bidding.
Completed in 1613, the rediscovered canvas depicts Jesus Christ on the cross set against a dramatic, dark sky. Experts at the Rubenianum, an association dedicated to the study of Rubens’ work, have authenticated the painting, confirming its place within the artist’s significant body of work and marking a rare opportunity to acquire a lost piece of Baroque history. The auction price underscores the enduring value and appeal of Rubens’ art, and highlights the potential for undiscovered treasures still hidden within private collections.
According to the auctioneer, the painting represents “the very beginning of the Baroque painting coast.” While Rubens created at least three versions of Christ on the Cross, with the most renowned example housed in Munich’s Alte Pinakothek, this particular canvas boasts a unique provenance, having previously been owned by 19th-century painter William Bouguereau and the subsequent owners of the Parisian estate where it was recently found. The VRT reports on the auction’s success.