No one knew of “Christ on the cross” 400 years ago – it was in a mansion in Paris

Work shows Jesus Christ in a “painfully realistic” way. Authenticated by experts, it will be auctioned in two months.

Peter Paul Rubens was the author of this painting. It’s called Christ Cruz and was created in 1613, For over 400 years.

The painter, German but who almost always lived in Belgium, is considered one of the biggest names in the style European baroque.

It gained prominence thanks to its vibrant and movement paintings, with historical, mythological and religious scenes.

Among its 10,000 works of art (besides paintings, also created drawings and tapestries), created elevation of the cross (1610), the descent of the cross (1614) or massacre of the innocent (1612).

This painting concerned, Christ on the cross, was Missing about 400 years ago. In September 2024 it was found in a Mansion in Parisduring a routine visit by auctioneer Jean-Pierre Osenat-who, when he saw the painting, soon realized that this was not any work.

“It is a true profession of faith and an initial milestone of baroque painting,” describes Osenat in statements to AFP.

However, Nils Büttner, expert in art history (and focused on the works of Peter Paul Rubens), has already confirmed the authenticity of the work. Performed analyzes of pigments and x-ray exams.

This painting shows Jesus Christ in a “painfully realistic” waywith the city of Jerusalem in the background, under a stormy sky, he cites the AFP agency.

Christ on the cross will have been a painting created for a private collector – not for the Catholic Church, as happened with other religious paintings of the same artist.

There is few tracks about the history of this picture. It may have been the property of the French academic painter William-Dolphe Bouguereau in the nineteenth century.

It will be auctioned on November 30 by the Osenat auction house in Chailly-en-Bière, France. Without an official price estimate, but looking at other works of the same author, will be sold for a value between 850 thousand euros and 4.3 million of euros.