The long-forgotten masterpiece, “Saint Sebastian Tended by Two Angels” by Peter Paul Rubens, which had been wrongly attributed for nearly three centuries, has resurfaced thanks to X-ray analysis. It is projected to bring up to £6 million ($7.7 million) at an auction next month.
The piece, created by the celebrated Flemish painter over 400 years ago, vividly portrays the narrative of the Roman soldier Sebastian, who was martyred after his conversion to Christianity, and his subsequent divine rescue by angels.
The initial glimpse of the artwork profoundly impacted George Gordon, the co-chairman of Sotheby’s old master paintings worldwide, mainly due to the dynamism and vitality of the brushwork. According to Gordon, the energy and enthusiasm of the strokes strongly suggested Rubens’ unique touch.
The painting was likely a commission by Ambrogio Spinola, a revered Italian military commander and nobleman who was Rubens’s close associate and benefactor. The artwork’s completion dates around 1606-8 in Italy or 1609-10 in Antwerp, after Rubens returns to his hometown.
Gordon noted that Spinola, a fervent Catholic engaged in a religious war, would have found the subject of Sebastian’s undying faith and martyrdom to be deeply resonant. The Spinola family’s patronage of and friendship with Rubens was also significant added Gordon.
The artwork fell off the historical radar in the 1730s when it left the Spinola lineage and was passed through female descendants until it re-emerged in Missouri in 1963. The current owner purchased it at a 2008 auction, where it was inaccurately labelled as a piece by Laurent de la Hyre, a French artist.
A breakthrough occurred in April when X-ray analysis confirmed the work was indeed by Rubens and, significantly, the original composition. Until then, another painting in the Corsini family collection, currently displayed in Rome’s Galleria Corsini, had been recognized as the original.
The X-ray scrutiny revealed various alterations beneath the final painting as Rubens perfectly fine-tuned his design. For instance, earlier drafts showed Saint Sebastian facing the opposite direction, and an additional arrow piercing his right thigh was absent in the final depiction.
Gordon hailed Rubens as “one of the most renowned, greatest painters of the 17th century” and a key pioneer of the Baroque art style.
On July 5, this rediscovered artwork will be auctioned in London. It is expected to command a price between £4 million and £6 million ($5.1 million and $7.7 million).
This rare rediscovery of a lost masterpiece is a testament to Rubens’ artistic prowess, and it is set to enthral the art world when it is auctioned off. Whether you’re a seasoned collector or just an art enthusiast, this fascinating journey of the painting – from obscurity to spotlight – underscores the power of art to resurface and captivate, even centuries later. It also reaffirms the importance of ongoing research and technological advancements in uncovering art’s hidden truths, like X-ray analysis.
