Rare Artifact Surpasses Estimated Value by a Significant Margin

Courtesy of SOTHEBY's

A small drawing attributed to Michelangelo, accompanied by a letter from the artist’s last direct descendant, has been sold at Christie's New York for $201,600, exceeding its highest estimated value of $8,000.

The drawing, discovered affixed to the back of a frame, depicts a block of marble with the Italian word "simile," meaning "similar" in English. It is believed that Michelangelo created the drawing while working on the Sistine Chapel ceiling, as suggested by a specialist at Christie's. The identity of the buyer has not been disclosed.
 

▲ Michelangelo Buonarroti: Diagram of a rectangular block of marble / Courtesy of SOTHEBY'sThe accompanying letter, dated 1836, was written by Cosimo Buonarroti and addressed to Sir John Bowring, who later became the governor of Hong Kong. Bowring's signature appears at the bottom of the letter. The letter and drawing were found by Christie's specialists on the back of another drawing that had been held in a private collection for many years.

Despite being unsigned, Christie's has confirmed through research that the drawing is indeed attributed to Michelangelo.

The majority of Michelangelo’s works are housed at the Casa Buonarroti museum in Florence, Italy. It is estimated that fewer than ten of the master’s works are privately owned.

Sayart 

Blue YIM, yimyoungseo1010@naver.com