From Napoleon’s loot to a bus station in London: The journey of Titian’s painting, going under the hammer next month

In 1809, Napoleon Bonaparte’s troops had stolen this painting and taken to Paris. In 2002, this ended up at a bus station in London.

Painted by Italian Renaissance artist Titian, the ‘Rest on the Flight into Egypt’ has been a part of various private collections and is finally going under auction next month.

It was bought by the 4th Marquess of Bath and stolen in 1995 from his descendant’s home in Longleat. The painting was bought by the Marquess from the same auction house where it shall be under the hammer next month.

Indeed, it has been a circle of life for the painting!

Why the hype?

The painting was found without a frame by Charles Hill, an art detective, and the same person to also have found Edvard Munch’s ‘The Scream’.

The painting depicts Virgin Mary embracing Jesus as an infant with Joseph looking on. The scene is reminiscent of Joseph, being warned in a dream that the King of Judea intended to kill the young Jesus, promptly took Mary and the child to Egypt to safety. Titian depicts the holy family resting in a rural spot enroute their tough journey. “It’s an intimate moment of tenderness between a mother and a son,” an article on the website of Christie’s auction house says.

The painting has been amounted for an extravagant price, and the reason is lucid. It has been through a lot. This painting has been under the possession of various aristocrats, emperors and archdukes across Europe. Notable artworks with such reputation usually get stolen with an aim to be sold and circulated in the black market — an underground nexus, unlike the open-market, where the art is hidden — until, someone locates the piece and a price is demanded for its return. A classic art-heist.

Everything from its line of owners, to its experiences and travels to its rediscovery post theft, contributes to the colossal value of any art piece.

A New York Times article titled ‘What is the value of stolen art’ puts it this way, “Apparently it is possible to steal and then sell paintings, but only if you are well connected, patient and not too greedy.”

The painting-first documented in the 17th century in the collection of a Venetian spice merchant is said to be “prized for its vividly coloured scene of familial affection within the natural world.”

The person to keep Titian’s painting in a plastic bag had asked for a ransom from its original owner, the Marquess, who wanted to see it with his own eyes before he wished to comment. After it was found, this painting shall have a new-found identity.

About the painter

Titian, born as Tiziano Vecelli, painted this oil-on-canvas artwork only at the ripe age of 20. Little did he know that one day it would be worth $32 million. He was a famed artist of the Venetian period, some time around 1488 to 1490. “He was one of the most versatile and adept of the Italian Renaissance painters, particularly admired for his skill with colour and fine brushwork,” says the page titian.org. Some of his famous works include ‘An Allegory of Prudence’, ‘Bacchus and Ariadne’ and ‘Annunciation’. An intriguing art theory which came out in 2021, found that Titian was linked to the timeless painting ‘The Last Supper’, that might have been created in his own studio.

Titian, born as Tiziano Vecelli, painted this oil-on-canvas artwork only at the ripe age of 20.  Photo: titian.org

Since he was a very popular and busy painter, a lot of artists contributed at his workshop and they might have completed ‘The Last Supper’ after his death, BBC has quoted art historian Ronald Moore as saying.

‘Rest on the Flight into Egypt’, the painting-first documented in the 17th century in the collection of a Venetian spice merchant, is said to be “prized for its vividly coloured scene of familial affection within the natural world.”

Christie’s in a statement compared the subjects of the said painting to its “long and eventful journey – a journey that’s far from over.”

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