A previously unknown sketch attributed to Renaissance master Michelangelo has sold for £16.9 million (over FJ$51 million) at auction, more than ten times its original estimate, after experts confirmed its connection to one of the most famous artworks in history.
Auction house Christie’s says the small red chalk drawing depicts a study of a foot believed to belong to the Libyan Sibyl, a figure later painted by Michelangelo on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.
The discovery came after the unsuspecting owner submitted a photograph of the drawing for valuation, unaware of its significance.
The anonymous seller, based on the United States West Coast, told Christie’s the sketch had been inherited from his grandmother and had remained in the family since the late 1700s.
Andrew Fletcher, global head of Christie’s Old Masters Department, described the moment the drawing was identified as authentic as “one of the most memorable moments” of his career.
Source: BBC News
