Rare Rubens Painting Fetches Nearly $3 Million at Auction

A long-hidden artwork by Baroque artist Peter Paul Rubens, illustrating the crucifixion of Jesus, just sold for nearly $3 million at an auction in Versailles on Sunday.

This significant piece was found in a private townhouse in Paris, surprisingly over four centuries after its creation.

Rubens is especially recognized for his other famous crucifixion works, including *Christ on the Cross*. However, this newly discovered painting offers a unique angle, portraying Jesus alone against a dark backdrop. While *Christ on the Cross* immerses the viewer in the crucifixion’s turmoil, this lost masterpiece feels more like a solitary reflection, almost reminiscent of the aftermath when the crowd has dispersed.

The painting achieved a record price of $2.7 million through the Ozena auction house, igniting speculation that it might have originated from one of Rubens’ abandoned workshops.

Jean-Pierre Ocena, the auctioneer, shared his excitement: “I immediately sensed this painting and pursued authentication efforts. Ultimately, I was able to confirm its authenticity through the Rubenianum in Antwerp.”

Art historian Nils Buettner noted that while many Baroque artists focused on crucifixion scenes, they seldom depicted “the crucified Christ as the corpse on the cross.” Buettner added, “This is the only painting showing blood and water flowing from Christ’s side wounds, and it’s a singular work by Rubens.”

The auction house emphasized its commitment to the painting’s authenticity, employing scientific methods, including microscopical layer analysis. This scrutiny revealed layers of pigment used for skin tones—common among artists—yet also featured unusual blue and green hues, which Rubens often applied for portraying human skin.

Art expert Eric Tarkin informed excited bidders that the painting vanished shortly after its completion in the early 1600s. He theorizes that it eventually landed in the collection of 19th-century French painter William Bouguereau before passing through family hands, ultimately finding itself in a now-fated townhouse in Paris.

In a related note, Rubens’ “Satyr with a Basket of Grapes and Quinces with a Nymph” was sold in 2018 to tech mogul Sean Parker for nearly $6 million, significantly above its projected value at the time.

Interestingly, the seller claimed to have withdrawn the painting from the auction prior to the event and even initiated legal action to reclaim it.