A painting hailed as a masterpiece, which was recovered from a plastic bag after being stolen, has sold for an astonishing £17.6m at an auction conducted by London auction house Christie's. The artwork, titled "Rest On The Flight Into Egypt," was painted by the Venetian master Titian in 1510 when he was just 20 years old.

The remarkable piece was stolen from the drawing room of the historic Longleat stately home in Wiltshire back in 1995. However, seven years later, it miraculously resurfaced without its frame inside a plastic carrier bag in London. The sale of this artwork now sets a new world auction record for the renowned artist, as confirmed by auctioneers.

Lord Bath, who recently became the Marquess of Bath in 2020 after inheriting the esteemed Longleat estate, expressed his delight in the painting's "extraordinary history." He explained that the decision to sell the artwork was part of a long-term investment strategy at Longleat, aimed at furthering ambitious agendas, especially given the prevailing market for such uniquely rare paintings.

The fascinating journey of "Rest On The Flight Into Egypt" dates back even further, with French troops looting the painting in 1809. It ended up in the Napoleon Museum, which was curated by the Bonaparte family. Fast forward to 1995, when the artwork was stolen and subsequently recovered in 2002 by former Scotland Yard detective Charles Hill, who successfully tracked it down following a £100,000 reward for information. Hill, known for his expertise in art recovery, had previously played a pivotal role in retrieving other renowned artworks such as Edvard Munch's "The Scream," stolen in 1994.

Ahead of the auction, Andrew Fletcher, Christie's global head of the Old Masters Department, expressed his excitement about the significant artwork by Titian coming into the auction market. He described it as "a truly outstanding example of the artist's pioneering approach to both the use of color and the representation of the human form in the natural world." Fletcher also emphasized that this painting solidifies Titian's standing as "one of the greatest painters in the history of Western art."

The auction estimate for the piece ranged from £15m-£20m, and the final sale of £17.6m reflects the high demand for this extraordinary artwork. As the art world marvels at the reemergence and subsequent sale of this stolen Titian masterpiece, it serves as a testament to the enduring value and allure of priceless works of art.