This drawing, dating from the late fifteenth century, “long escaped the attention of specialists” and It is in “good condition”highlighted the sales house.
The drawing made with pen and brown ink it was put up for sale in 1907 at the Drouot hotel under the classification “School of Michelangelo”, before being attributed to the master only in 2019, as part of an inventory for a French private collection.
In September 2019 it was declared a “national treasure” by French heritage, which prohibits its departure from the national territory for thirty months and gives the French State and its museums the opportunity to buy it.
As no offer was made during this period, the drawing will be exhibited in Hong Kong and then in New York in order to fuel the interest of local and foreign collectors, from here to auction.
The art lovers can also admire it in Parisstarting May 13.
This sketch, with the dimensions of an A4 sheet, seems to be inspired by a fresco by the painter Masaccio (“The Baptism of the Neophytes”) and illustrates the interest of Michelangelo, also a sculptor, for the representation of the male body.