A small drawing by Michelangelo, accompanied by a letter from the artist’s last direct descendant, has sold at Christie’s New York for $201,600, far outstripping its highest estimate of $8,000.
Found affixed to the back of a frame, the drawing of a block of marble contains the Italian word “simile”, or “similar” in English. It is believed that Michelangelo drew it while working on the Sistine Chapel ceiling, according to a Christie’s specialist. The identity of the buyer has not been disclosed.
A letter written by Cosimo Buonarroti in 1836 offers the piece by Michelangelo to Sir John Bowring, who became the future governor of Hong Kong and whose signature appears at the bottom of the paper.
The letter and diagram were found by Christie’s specialists on the back of another drawing that had been in a private collection for decades, the auction house explained in a statement.
Christie’s confirmed through research that the drawing was made by Michelangelo despite being unsigned.
Most of Michelangelo’s works are housed at the Casa Buonarroti museum in Florence, Italy. Less than ten of the master’s works are believed to be privately owned.
