After Four Century Disappeared, The Painting Of Jesus' Crossing Sold For IDR 44 Billion

JAKARTA - A painting by maestro Peter Paul Rubens who had long disappeared finally reappeared and sold for 2.3 million euros or IDR 44 billion at an auction at Versailles last weekend.

The work entitled "The crossing of Jesus Christ" was hidden for more than four centuries before being found in a private house in Paris.

Jean-Pierre Osenat, the auctioneer who handled the sale, admitted that he immediately felt there was something special when he first saw the painting.

"I immediately had a feeling about this painting, and I did everything I could to make sure it was true," he told AP, as quoted from the Euro News page.

"Finally, we managed to pass it through Rubenianum, Rubens' expert committee inikarp," he continued.

Prior to the auction, Nils art historian Böttner said Rubens often painted crossing scenes. However, Rubens never depicted Jesus in a lifeless condition on the cross.

"This is the only painting showing blood and water flowing from wounds on the side of Christ and Rubens' body that has only painted it once," Böttner said.

The Osenat auction house confirmed the authenticity of the work after conducting a series of scientific analyses. Microscopic examinations of paint coating reveal the presence of white, black, and red pigments for the skin, as well as blue and green pigments that Rubens often uses to create human skin nuances.

The discovery and sale of this painting is one of the most important moments in the art world, especially for researchers and fans by Rubens, given his extraordinary historical value and uniqueness.