Christie's describes it as a cherished piece sought after by nobility and with a rich, ongoing journey through history. This is a painting, then, that has been coveted by aristocrats, archdukes and emperors alike: prized for its vividly coloured scene of familial affection within the natural world, the auction house said in the statement.
The Rest on the Flight into Egypt has been on a long and eventful journey a journey that's far from over. The artwork has been stolen twice. First in 1809 by Napoleon's troops from Belvedere Palace in Vienna and then in 1995 from Longleat House, Wiltshire.
After a seven-year search, it was found in a plastic bag at a London bus stop by Charles Hill, former head of Scotland Yard's art and antiques unit. Hill, who died in 2021, found the painting following a tip-off in exchange for a 100,000 reward.
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