A drawing by Michelangelo has just been sold at auction at Christie’s Paris for the sum of 23 million euros.

From the end of the 15th century

A drawing by Michelangelo was sold for 23 million euros, with buyer’s fees, on Wednesday at Christie’s Paris, a record for a drawing by the Italian master according to the auction house. Dating from the end of the 15th century, this drawing which represents a naked man, standing, framed by two other figures in the background, 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.

A National treasure

This sale exceeds the record reached for a drawing by the famous Italian painter and sculptor, established until now 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. In September 2019, it was declared a “national treasure” for French heritage, which prohibits any exit from national territory for thirty months and gives the French State and its museums the opportunity to buy it back. No offer having been made during this period, the drawing was exhibited in Hong Kong and then in New York to be presented to collectors before the sale.