Rubens painting thought to be missing found in Paris

A painting by the famous painter Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640), thought lost since 1613, has been found in a Paris mansion, the auctioneer who found it said Wednesday.

"It's a masterpiece, a Christ on the Cross, painted in 1613 , which had disappeared and which I found in September 2024 during the inventory and sale of a mansion in the 6th arrondissement of Paris," Jean-Pierre Osenat , president of the auction house of the same name, which will auction the painting on November 30 , told AFP.

"It's an extremely rare occurrence and an unprecedented discovery," he added.

"It was painted by Rubens at the height of his talent and authenticated by Professor Nils Büttner ," a specialist in 15th and 16th century German, Flemish and Dutch art and president of the Rubenianum , an organization in Antwerp near Rubens's former home and workshop, which is charged with the study of his work, according to Osenat.

"I was in Rubens's garden, wandering around while the committee of experts deliberated on the painting's authenticity, when he called me to say: 'Jean-Pierre, we have a new Rubens!'" the auctioneer recounted excitedly.

"It marks the beginning of Baroque painting , depicting the crucified Christ, isolated, luminous, standing out powerfully against a dark and threatening sky. Behind the rocky, green backdrop of Golgotha, a view appears showing Jerusalem illuminated, but apparently under a storm," he described, adding that the work is in "very good" condition.

Although the painter created numerous paintings for the Church, this masterpiece, measuring 105.5 cm by 72.5 cm, was probably intended for a private collector. It belonged to the 19th-century painter William Bouguereau and, later, to the owners of the Parisian mansion where it was found.