NEW YORK — A rediscovered foot study by Michelangelo sold for $27.2 million at auction Thursday, February 5, shattering previous records for works by the Renaissance master.
A New High for Michelangelo
The sketch, a red chalk drawing, is a study for a figure in the Sistine Chapel’s iconic ceiling.
- The drawing sold for $27.2 million, exceeding the previous record by nearly $3 million.
- The sketch is believed to be a preparatory study for a figure on the Sistine Chapel ceiling, created between 1536 and 1541.
- The artwork was attributed to Michelangelo after its owner submitted a photograph to an art market giant.
- The previous record for a Michelangelo work was set in 2022 with the sale of a nude male drawing for $24.3 million.
The drawing realized more than twenty times its low estimate after a 45-minute bidding war, according to the auction organizer. The identity of the buyer has not been disclosed.
Experts determined the small, red chalk sketch depicts a foot study for one of the figures adorning the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in Rome, a masterpiece Michelangelo created between 1536 and 1541.
The artwork’s owner initially contacted the auction house with a photograph of the drawing, which was then attributed to Michelangelo.
What is the most expensive Michelangelo drawing ever sold? The foot study, sold for $27.2 million on February 5, now holds that title.
Prior to this sale, the highest price achieved for a work by the Italian genius was $24.3 million, set in Paris in 2022 for a drawing of a nude man.
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