Rubens Painting Sells for Pounds 49.5m; Competitive Bidding: 17th Century 'Unknown' Canvas Fetches Record Price
Byline: Caroline Gammell
An unknown Rubens painting last night smashed the record for the most expensive painting ever bought, or sold, in sterling at an auction.
The Massacre of the Innocents, painted between 1609 and 1611, was sold for pounds 49,506,650.
It was expected to reach between pounds 4 to pounds 6 million but was bought for the record-breaking price by a private collector in the auction room.
The painting depicts the moment when King Herod ordered the slaughter of all newborn boys to get rid of the Messiah.
The painting and its 17th century Antwerp surrounding wooden panel are still in near perfect condition.
Last night's purchase beats the sale of Vincent van Gogh's Portrait of Doctor Gachet which went under the hammer at Christie's in New York for pounds 44,378,696.
The Massacre of the Innocents was only properly …
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Publication information:
Article title: Rubens Painting Sells for Pounds 49.5m; Competitive Bidding: 17th Century 'Unknown' Canvas Fetches Record Price.
Contributors: Not available.
Newspaper title: The Birmingham Post (England).
Publication date: July 11, 2002.
Page number: 11.
© 2009 Birmingham Post & Mail Ltd.
COPYRIGHT 2002 Gale Group.
This material is protected by copyright and, with the exception of fair use, may not be further copied, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means.
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