After centuries of being lost and nearly 300 years of misattribution, the nude painting by master artist Rubens has reemerged in the art world, potentially selling for up to $7.7 million.
Sir Peter Paul Rubens (1577–1640) was a Flemish painter from Belgium and the Netherlands. He completed the painting Saint Sebastian Tended by Two Angels over 400 years ago.
In this artwork, Rubens depicts the story of the Roman soldier Sebastian, who was pierced by many arrows and left to die after converting to Christianity. However, through a miraculous intervention, he is aided by two angels and ultimately becomes a saint.
George Gordon, co-chair of the Old Masters paintings department at Sotheby’s, indicated that the commission for this Rubens work likely came from the Italian nobleman and military commander Ambrogio Spinola.
Saint Sebastian Tended by Two Angels. (Photo: Sotheby’s).
The exact timeframe for the completion of the nude painting is unclear, but it is believed to have been created around 1606–1608 in Italy or approximately 1609–1610 in Antwerp (Belgium) when the artist returned to his homeland.
“Ambrogio Spinola was a soldier involved in the religious wars. He was a devout Catholic, which is why we witness this moment of canonization. When Sebastian’s faith became clear, he refused to renounce it and was subsequently sentenced to death for his beliefs. This theme was fitting for Spinola,” Gordon explained to CNN, also revealing that the Spinola family were patrons and good friends of Rubens.
Gordon was profoundly impressed when he first saw the painting at an exhibition. For him, the lively and energetic brushstrokes are a signature style of Rubens.
Unfortunately, the painting vanished from history in the 1730s, only to resurface in Missouri (USA) in 1963. It was later purchased by the current owner at auction in 2008. However, at that time, the painting was mistakenly attributed to the French painter Laurent de la Hyre.
In April, X-ray analysis confirmed the painting’s authenticity as a work of Rubens and established it as the original piece. Previously, it was believed that the original was in the collection of the Corsini family, currently displayed at the Galleria Corsini in Rome (Italy).
Experts conducted X-ray analysis to confirm the true identity of the painting. (Photo: Sotheby’s).
The analysis revealed changes made beneath the final artwork. Initially, Rubens depicted Saint Sebastian looking in a different direction and also removed an arrow piercing the saint’s right thigh.
“Rubens is one of the most famous and greatest painters of the 17th century. He was also a pioneer in developing the Baroque artistic style,” Gordon stated.
The nude painting is set to be auctioned in London on July 5, with an estimated price between £4-6 million ($5.1-7.7 million).
