400-year-old Rubens found in Paris mansion
A long-lost painting by 17th-century Flemish master Peter Paul Rubens has been rediscovered in a Paris mansion, French auctioneer Jean-Pierre Osenat announced on Wednesday.
“It is a masterpiece,” Osenat told AFP, referring to the 1613 sketch of Jesus Christ on the cross. “It was painted by Rubens at the height of his talent and is in very good condition.”
Osenat, head of the eponymous auction house, said he discovered the artwork in September 2024 while preparing to sell a private mansion in Paris’s fashionable 6th arrondissement. “It is an extremely rare and incredible discovery,” he said.
The painting has been authenticated by German art historian Nils Buttner, a specialist on the Flemish Baroque master. Its provenance was verified using techniques including X-ray imaging and pigment analysis, Osenat added.
Recalling the tense wait for confirmation, Osenat said he paced anxiously as a committee of experts examined the work. The breakthrough came via a phone call from Buttner: “Jean-Pierre, we have a new Rubens!” he exclaimed.
Osenat described the painting as “a true profession of faith and a favourite subject for Rubens, a Protestant who converted to Catholicism.” He noted that the work represents the very beginnings of Baroque painting, depicting a crucified Christ who is isolated, luminous, and dramatically set against a dark, ominous sky.
Although Rubens created numerous works for churches, this particular painting, measuring 105.5 by 72.5 centimetres (42 by 29 inches), was likely intended for a private collector.
The artwork is believed to have once belonged to the 19th-century French academic painter William-Adolphe Bouguereau, before passing into the hands of the owners of the Parisian mansion where it was found.
The rediscovery of this Rubens is being hailed as a major event in the art world, combining historical significance with aesthetic brilliance. Collectors and experts alike are eager to see it reach the market.
The painting is scheduled to go under the hammer on November 30, promising to attract significant attention from private collectors and institutions worldwide. Its exceptional quality, coupled with its rarity, makes it one of the most notable finds of recent years.
