A masterpiece by Flemish baroque painter Peter Paul Rubens fetched nearly 3 million euros at auction on Sunday afternoon, meeting expectations for an extraordinary sale price. The painting titled "Christ on the Cross" was sold at the crowded Osenat auction house in Versailles, France, for 2.3 million euros, reaching a total of 2,940,798 euros including fees.

The auction generated significant interest from collectors and art enthusiasts who packed the auction room. The bidding started at 500,000 euros, with initial estimates ranging between 1 and 2 million euros, but the final price exceeded even the higher end of those projections. The intense bidding war reflected the continued strong demand for works by the renowned baroque master.

The high sale price comes as no surprise to art market experts familiar with Rubens' commanding market value. Works by the Flemish painter regularly sell for millions of euros at international auctions, cementing his status as one of the most sought-after old masters in the contemporary art market. His paintings consistently attract wealthy collectors and institutions worldwide.

The record-breaking sale follows other notable Rubens transactions in recent years. In January 2023, another Rubens masterpiece titled "The Head of Saint John the Baptist Presented to Salome" achieved an even more spectacular result, selling for $27 million (equivalent to 23.3 million euros) at Sotheby's auction house in New York. This demonstrates the enduring appeal and investment potential of works by the baroque master in today's competitive art market.