A 1613 painting of Christ by Peter Paul Rubens was discovered in Paris and now heads to auction.
The painting was discovered last year in a mansion in the south of Paris by auctioneer Jean-Pierre Osenat, who had bought the property to sell it later. It was earlier believed to have been a work by French painter William-Adolphe Bouguereau. However, Osenat suspected the true origins of the painting and had it further investigated. The painting was ultimately revealed to be Christ on the cross (1613) by the Flemish master Peter Paul Rubens and features the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The theme of the painting, which measures 42 by 29 inches, fits well with Rubens’s devotion to Christianity. However, unlike most of his other works featuring Christ, this was likely made for a private collector.
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The provenance of the work was proven through X-ray imaging, pigment analysis, and other scientific methods. It was also corroborated by art historian Nils Buttner, who is also the chairman of the Centranum Rubenianum in Belgium since 2021. Osenat said that the painting was created “at the height of” Rubens’ career, and is in quite good condition.
The plans for the future of the painting include an auction organized by Osenat’s auction house. Nothing about the sale, including the presale estimate, has been released except that the auction would be held at Fontainebleu, France, on November 30. The work would also be added to the next release of the Addenda and Corrigenda of Rubens’s catalogue.
