A masterpiece by Nicolas Poussin is expected to fetch up to $31 million when it is auctioned by Christie’s in December.
Painted in the 1630s, “Ordination” was one of the Seven Sacraments created by the artist for Cassiano dal Pozzo – a famous collector in Rome.
What makes this sale particularly special is that of the seven paintings, “Penance” was destroyed in a fire nearly 200 years ago, “Baptism” was donated to the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C., while the other five “Ordination,” “Confirmation,” “Eucharist,” “Extreme Unction” and “Marriage” are part of the Belvoir Estate (the estate of the Duke of Rutland) and have been on loan to the National Gallery in London.
A statement on behalf of the Belvoir Estate read: “The proceeds released from the sale of the painting will enable us to realize our core aims of securing the restoration and long-term preservation of Belvoir Castle and Estate.”
According to Christie’s the Pope tried to stop the works being sold out of Italy in the late 18th century but art dealer James Byres had other plans. He had copies painted and substituted them so that the originals could be smuggled and sold to Charles Manners – the 4th Duke of Rutland.
The sale will take place in London on December 7.
(Source: reuters)