A rare drawing by Michelangelo sells for $27 million
In an extraordinary event that shook the global auction world, a rare Renaissance drawing by the renowned Italian artist Michelangelo for a staggering $27.2 million at a Christie's auction in New York last Thursday. This artwork set a new record for the artist's work, far exceeding initial expectations.
The exciting story of the discovery
The journey of this painting to the auction platform was anything but ordinary. The story began when the owner of the drawing submitted a photograph of it through the auction house's online portal to request an appraisal, unaware that he possessed an artistic treasure. After careful examination by art experts, it became clear that this small piece of red chalk drawing was not merely a casual scribble, but a detailed anatomical study of a foot, specifically the right foot, belonging to the Libyan Sibyl.
This figure is one of the most prominent and largest murals that adorn the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican, which was completed by Michelangelo between 1508 and 1512, and is considered one of the greatest achievements of Western art throughout history.
The importance of the work and its historical context
The exceptional value of this drawing lies in its extreme rarity. It is a well-known historical fact that Michelangelo destroyed most of his preliminary drawings and sketches by burning them before his death, wishing to conceal the painstaking effort he exerted to achieve artistic perfection and to make his art appear as the effortless product of innate genius. Consequently, finding an original drawing by him in the hands of private collectors is an extremely rare occurrence; only about 10 Michelangelo drawings exist in private collections worldwide, while the rest are held in museums.
This drawing demonstrates Michelangelo’s mastery of anatomy and his remarkable ability to transform simple red chalk lines into vibrant details, which paved the way for the creation of the Libyan oracle in its complex and famous pose on the historic ceiling.
Auction and competition details
Christie's explained that the auction witnessed fierce competition lasting 45 minutes, with the price increasing nearly 20 times the painting's initial low estimate. Andrew Fletcher, global head of Old Masters at Christie's, said, "This was an exceptional piece with a fascinating story, and we received bids from numerous buyers, both in person and via telephone and online.".
Fletcher added, emphasizing the uniqueness of the opportunity: "This was probably the only opportunity that art collectors might have to acquire a model of what is considered the greatest work of art of all time," noting the direct connection between the painting and the Sistine Chapel ceiling.
