London CNN —A twice-stolen painting by Italian Renaissance master Titian, which was once found in a plastic bag at a bus stop in London, is expected to fetch as much as $32 million at auction in July.
“The Rest on the Flight into Egypt” is going under the hammer at Christie’s with an estimate of £15 million-£25 million ($19 million-$32 million), according to a statement from the auction house.
The painting depicts Jesus, Mary and Joseph resting on their way to Egypt after learning that Herod, King of Judea, wanted to kill the young Christ.
Titian, whose real name was Tiziano Vecellio, made the work in the first decade of the 16th century, at the beginning of his career.
In 1995, it was stolen from Longleat, the home of Thynne’s descendants, and disappeared for seven years, before it was found at a bus stop in London by art detective Charles Hill.
Persons:
London CNN —, Titian, Egypt ”, Jesus, Mary, Joseph, Herod, King of Judea, Tiziano, John Alexander Thynne , 4th Marquess of Bath, Charles Hill, archdukes, ” Christie’s
Organizations:
London CNN, Italian, Napoleonic
Locations:
London, Egypt, Vienna, Paris, Wiltshire, England, Christie’s