There is, however, a fair chance that it will be the largest.
Measuring 10ft x 16ft 6in (3.06 x 5.04m), it is far from easy to hang. Van Bree is considered to be one of the founders of the Belgian tradition of historical painting and was renowned for his depictions of classical antiquity as well as his dramatic scenes from the Napoleonic wars.
This painting, which was acquired by a German diplomat in the 1980s, is thought to date from the artist’s early period, when his major influences were the Old Masters of the 17th century.
After a visit to Paris in the 1790s, his style changed dramatically and he devoted himself to his historical subject matter. Collectors with adequate wall-space can join in the March 18 auction at Nagel in Stuttgart, where the guide is €15,000.
