Painting "Christ on the Cross" by Rubens found in France 400 years later

Painting by Rubens "Christ on the Cross". Photo: auction house Osenat

A painting by the Flemish master Peter Paul Rubens, "Christ on the Cross", which had been considered lost for over 400 years, was found in one of the mansions in Paris.

The painting was discovered by Jean-Pierre Osenat, president of the Osenat auction house, in September 2024 during the inventory and sale of a mansion in the 6th arrondissement of Paris. The auctioneer was preparing the property for sale and conducting an inventory of its contents when he came across the canvas among other items.

The painting is in "very good condition", noted the auctioneer. After the discovery, Osenat consulted a specialist to verify the authenticity of the artwork.

The painting’s authenticity was confirmed by German art historian Nils Büttner, known for his research on Flemish Baroque masters.

The work, measuring 105.5 by 72.5 centimeters, was painted by Rubens in 1613 and was likely intended for a private collector. It once belonged to 19th-century academic artist William Bouguereau, and later to the owners of the mansion where it was found.

“This is a masterpiece that disappeared and that I have found. It is an extremely rare and incredible discovery, and it will be a landmark moment in my career as an auctioneer,” said Jean-Pierre Osenat.

The masterpiece will be auctioned at the Osenat auction house at the end of November.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that in France, archaeologists uncovered a 1500-year-old Christian cathedral with a baptistery.

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