On May 18, 2022, a drawing by Michelangelo was sold at an auction held by Christie’s Auction House in Paris.
The auction is thus marked by the discovery and sale of the first nude drawing by the renowned artist, and also by its record-breaking sale price. Until now, the work by Michelangelo sold for the highest price was “The Risen One”, which was sold for 13.5 million euros less than the nude drawing.
This work was created at the end of the 15th century using fountain pen, and is now well preserved. Although Michelangelo owned numerous world-renowned artworks, there are also several drawings that are unknown to the world, since they are in the possession of private entities.
Photo: DR Emmanuel DUNAND / AFP
The drawing had already been sold in 1907 and considered French Heritage in 2019, giving the opportunity to buy it to the country’s museums. Due to the lack of interest from art organizations in France, it passed through different cities, such as New York, and was eventually presented at auction this year.
This is one of the proofs that artistic items play a great role in the world’s most prestigious auctions, and there is always a greater demand for works whose author has a great influence in the art world, as is the example of Michelangelo.