An ultra-rare painting by renowned Italian painter Sandro Botticelli would fetch $ 80 million or more when it comes up for sale at Sotheby’s on Thursday.
The auction marks the first major test of the arts market this year, as well as the willingness of global collectors to pay eight or nine figures for jobs through prizes during a health crisis and market volatility. If it does well, it may help to raise the reputation and prices for Old Master paintings at a time when most of the big money in the art world is running on newer works, smarter from post-war and modern-day artists.
“There is a global audience and interest in this picture,” said Charles Stuart, CEO of Sotheby’s.
The Botticelli painting, entitled “Young Man Holding a Roundel,” is believed to have been painted around 1480. It is one of a dozen paintings given to Botticelli and one of only a few in hands. private.
The seller is reportedly the heir apparent to the late property billionaire Sheldon Solow, who bought the piece in 1982 for $ 1.2 million.
To market the work at the time of the pandemic, Sotheby’s showed the image around the world to collectors and bidders.
“The young man in the picture has traveled more at Covid ‘s time than anyone we know,” said Stuart.
Botticelli is famous for “Birth of Venus,” which features the Roman goddess emerging from a sea view. The previous album for his work was the 2013 sale of “Madonna and Child with Young Saint John the Baptist” for $ 10.4 million.
The work will be part of Sotheby’s “Master Paintings & Sculpture” festival on Thursday.