Complex sentence: The depiction of the Virgin caused a contemporary stir, and was rejected as unfit by the parish; subsequently, upon the recommendation by Peter Paul Rubens, who praised it as one of Caravaggio's best, it was bought by the Duke of Mantua.
Split into simpler sentences: The depiction of the Virgin caused a contemporary stir, and was rejected as unfit by the parish. Subsequently, upon the recommendation by Peter Paul Rubens, who praised it as one of Caravaggio's best, the painting was bought by the Duke of Mantua.