A painting depicting the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, believed to have been lost for over 400 years and attributed to Baroque master Peter Paul Rubens, was sold for €2.3 million at an auction in Versailles this weekend.
The artwork, created by the renowned Flemish painter who lived from 1577 to 1640, was uncovered earlier this year inside a private residence in Paris, where it had remained hidden for centuries.
Auctioneer Jean-Pierre Osenat said he suspected the painting’s importance as soon as he saw it. He worked persistently to secure its authentication, which was ultimately confirmed by the Rubenianum in Antwerp, the leading authority on Rubens’ works.
Art historian Nils Büttner, a well-known Rubens specialist, explained ahead of the sale that while Rubens created many crucifixion scenes, he almost never portrayed Christ as lifeless on the cross.
According to the Osenat auction house, scientific testing played a crucial role in verifying the painting’s authenticity. Microscopic analysis of the paint surface revealed white, black, and red pigments in the flesh tones, as well as traces of blue and green, colors Rubens was known to use when painting human skin.
In November, Gustav Klimt’s Portrait of Elisabeth Lederer was sold for $236.4 million at Sotheby’s New York, making it the second most expensive artwork ever auctioned.
