Long-Lost Rubens Painting of Christ's Crucifixion Sells for $2.7 Million

Rediscovered Rubens Masterpiece

• 🎨 A long-lost painting by Baroque master Peter Paul Rubens, depicting the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, has been rediscovered.
• 💰 The artwork sold for 2.3 million euros ($2.7 million) at an auction in Versailles, France.

Provenance and Historical Context

• 📜 The painting has a significant provenance, tracing back to William Bugle, a prominent classicist painter of the late 18th and 19th centuries.
• 🔍 Its existence has been known since a 1625 print by Vostamman, which bore Rubens' initials, indicating the work was lost for over four centuries.
• ✨ The reappearance of the painting is described as fantastic by art historians.

Artistic Attribution and Discussion

• 🧐 While there is unanimity that the main figure is by Rubens and considered a masterpiece, discussions exist regarding other elements.
• ☁️ It is possible that the clouds in the painting were not executed by Rubens himself.
• 🌳 Similarly, the vegetation might be the work of another artist.
• 🌍 There is ongoing debate among art historians whether the view of Jerusalem is by Rubens or another artist.