An unpublished drawing representing the first known nude by the painter Michelangelo, and whose value was estimated at 30 million euros, was sold for 23 million euros with buyer's costs, Wednesday May 18, at Christie's Paris .
Dating from the end of the 15th century, this drawing was made in pen and brown ink.
It had been put up for sale in 1907 at the Hôtel Drouot, in Paris, under the classification "School of Michelangelo", before being attributed to the master in 2019 only, as part of an inventory for a private collection. French.
This auction in Paris exceeds the record reached for a drawing by the famous Italian painter and sculptor, established so far in July 2000 by "The Risen Christ" (8.1 million pounds, or 9.5 million euros ) at Christie's London, according to the auction house.
The dimensions of an A4 sheet, it seems to be inspired by a fresco by the painter Masaccio ("The Baptism of the Neophytes") and illustrates Michelangelo's interest in the representation of the male body.
In September 2019, it was declared a "national treasure" for French heritage, which prohibits any exit from national territory for 30 months and gives the French State and its museums the opportunity to buy it back.
With AFP
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