Gagosian has secured special permission from Art Basel Paris to exhibit a rediscovered Old Master painting by Peter Paul Rubens, titled "The Virgin and Christ Child, with Saints Elizabeth and John the Baptist" (c. 1611–14), at a fair that typically restricts its main sector to works created between 1900 and 2025. The painting, last sold at Sotheby’s New York in 2020 for just over $7 million, will be shown alongside modern and contemporary works by artists such as John Currin, Jenny Saville, and Pablo Picasso. The exception was granted by Art Basel’s management and Selection Committee due to the work's exceptional quality and its resonance with the gallery's booth.
This move matters because it signals a potential shift in the boundaries of major contemporary art fairs, which have historically excluded pre-20th-century works. By allowing an Old Master into a modern and contemporary context, Art Basel Paris acknowledges the growing cross-period dialogue in the art world, where dealers and collectors increasingly see historical works as relevant to contemporary practice. It also underscores Gagosian’s market influence and its ability to rewrite fair rules, potentially encouraging other mega-galleries to push for similar exceptions in the future.