Titian's painting, previously discovered at a London bus stop, might fetch $32 million in an auction.
A famous piece of artwork titled "The Rest on the Flight into Egypt" by Titian is set to be auctioned at Christie's with a projected value of £15 million to £25 million ($19 million-$32 million), according to the auction house.
This painting showcases the Virgin Mary, baby Jesus, and Joseph during their journey to Egypt upon learning of Herod's plan to kill baby Jesus. Titian, whose birth name was Tiziano Vecellio, produced this piece early in his career during the first decade of the 16th century.
Despite its notable size of 18.25 inches by 24.75 inches (46.2 centimeters x 62.9 centimeters), it pales in comparison to his later, large-scale works.
Featuring a rich history, the oil-on-canvas masterpiece has been exchanged between European elites throughout the years. When Napoleonic troops took over Vienna in 1809, they essentially stole the painting, bringing it to Paris. During the French withdrawal in 1815, the artwork returned to Vienna. It then underwent more private sales before ultimately landing in the possession of John Alexander Thynne, 4th Marquess of Bath, in Wiltshire, England.
Unfortunately, the painting went missing in 1995 when it was stolen from Longleat, the Thynne family's residence. It lay undiscovered for seven years until an art detective named Charles Hill found it at a bus stop in London.
Christie's statement describes the piece as one that has been cherished by various ranks, from aristocrats to emperors, due to its captivating portrayal of a comforting moment within nature.
The painting will be exhibited in the Old Masters Part I auction held at Christie's in London on July 2.
