A lost painting by 17th-century Flemish master Peter Paul Rubens sold at auction in France on Sunday for 2.94 million euros, or about $3.41 million, more than doubling its expected value. The rediscovered artwork, featuring all the elements of a lost Rubens painting, had been estimated between 1 and 2 million euros ($1.16 million to $2.31 million).
Auctioneer Jean-Pierre Osenat uncovered the piece while preparing a Paris mansion for sale last year. The painting, created in 1613, shows a luminous depiction of Jesus Christ on the cross, set against a dark, stormy sky.
Osenat said the composition represents the early phase of Baroque painting, with Christ standing alone in a dramatic and vivid scene.
A lost Rubens painting has sold for $3.4 million at a French auction after being found in a Paris mansion. Believed to be painted in 1613, the rare work was authenticated and far exceeded its estimate.#ArtNews #Rubens #LostPainting #Auction pic.twitter.com/TW3AbP26EK
— Tom Marvolo Riddle (@tom_riddle2025) December 1, 2025
While Rubens produced many religious commissions for churches, the auction house believes this particular work, measuring 105.5 by 72.5 centimeters (41.5 by 28.5 inches), was likely made for a private collector.
Lost Rubens painting confirmed by experts
The painting had remained out of public view for generations after being purchased by 19th-century French academic painter William-Adolphe Bouguereau. It stayed within his family until the recent sale.
Historians were previously aware of the work only through an old engraving created by a contemporary of Rubens. Despite never having seen the original, scholars had documented its existence based on that image.
The authentication was carried out by German art historian Nils Buttner, a noted expert on Rubens and Flemish Baroque art. Osenat said the painting’s origin was further confirmed through scientific analysis, including X-ray imaging and pigment testing.
The sale drew international attention due to the rarity and condition of the piece, as well as its strong connection to Rubens during the peak of his artistic career.
