Exhibition: Rare chance to see a Titan painting prior to sale

Coming to the market for the first time in more than 145 years, Titian’s early masterpiece "Rest on the Flight into Egypt" will be on display at Christie's auction house prior to being sold.

Making it a rare chance to see it before it disappears back into a private collection -- unless a gallery is able to buy it.

One of the last religious works from the artist’s celebrated early years to remain in private hands, the picture has passed through some of the greatest collections in Europe and was last auctioned by Christie’s in 1878, before entering the collection at Longleat House.

Enjoyed by multiple generations, the painting made the headlines in 1995 when it was stolen from Longleat. Seven years later, following a £100,000 reward being announced for information leading to the picture’s safe return, it was found in 2002 in a carrier bag in Greater London, minus the frame, by a leading art detective of the time – the late Charles Hill, a former Scotland Yard officer.