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. French.
This auction in Paris 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.
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 thirty months and gives the French State and its museums the opportunity to buy it back.
