INCREDIBLE EARLY TITIAN ARTWORK SELLS FOR A RECORD BREAKING AMOUNT OF JUST OVER 20 MILLION AT AUCTION

One of the most influential supporters of traditional Venetian painting is the Renaissance master Titian. His career lasted the majority of the 16th century, and European royalty praised his work, which was noted for its expressive use of colour. An auction of early work by him recently demonstrates that his standing in art history circles has never diminished.

Christie's sold The Rest on the Flight to Egypt for $22 million on July 2. For the artist, this auction records a new high. One of Titian's final early paintings in a private collection before the auction, the painting was created when he was in his late teens or early 20s.

Renaissance artists frequently painted scenes from the Bible found in the Gospel of Matthew. During a brief break on their arduous journey to Egypt, Mary and the infant Jesus are depicted in the oil painting holding hands while Joseph keeps watch over them. The private family moment offers a stunning preview of Titian's potential creative growth. The pastoral setting that served as the inspiration for much of his work is visible in the backdrop. The pinkish-red colour of Mary's clothing serves as a sneak peek at the colour scheme he would often employ. This stands in stark contrast to Joseph's bright yellow outfit and her ultramarine blue mantle.

Even though the painting is powerful on its own, learning what happened to it long after Titian's passing makes it even more fascinating. Throughout its existence, the piece was stolen twice. It had originally been in Austria's Archduke Leopold Wilhelm's vast collection of Italian art. Napoleon's army stole the painting and took it to Paris during their occupation of Vienna in 1809. After Napoleon's downfall in 1815, it was eventually returned.

The second theft happened much more recently, from Longleat House in England, in 1995. After being bought from Christie's in 1878 by John Alexander Thynne, 4th Marquess of Bath, the painting ended up there. It went missing for seven years until it turned up inexplicably in a bag at a London bus stop and was subsequently brought back to Longleat.

The Rest on the Flight to Egypt demonstrates Titian's remarkable durability as it changes hands once more.

Orlando Rock, chairman of Christie's UK, says, "This outcome is a tribute to the impeccable provenance and quiet beauty of this sublime early masterpiece by Titian, which is one of the most poetic products of the artist's youth. This picture has captured the imaginations of audiences for more than half a millennia and will no doubt continue to do so.”