In a remarkable twist of fate, a previously unrecognised sketch of a foot by the legendary artist Michelangelo has sold for an astounding £16.9 million ($23 million) at Christie’s auction house, vastly exceeding its initial valuation by over tenfold. This extraordinary discovery highlights not only the enduring value of Renaissance art but also the hidden treasures that may lie unnoticed in private collections.
A Historical Masterpiece Revealed
The sketch, rendered in red chalk, is believed to depict the foot of the Libyan Sibyl, a figure famously immortalised in Michelangelo’s grand fresco on the Sistine Chapel ceiling. Experts from Christie’s assert that the sketch dates back to around 1511-1512, a period when Michelangelo was intensively working on the second half of the ceiling’s elaborate paintings.
The anonymous seller, a resident of the US West Coast, stumbled upon this gem when he submitted a photograph for an auction estimate, only to be astounded by the sketch’s true worth. He revealed that this prized possession had been passed down through his family since the late 1700s, originating from Europe.
Expert Validation
Andrew Fletcher, the global head of Christie’s Old Masters Department, expressed that the revelation of this sketch ranks among the most unforgettable moments of his career. Giada Damen, a specialist in the Old Master Drawings Department, employed infrared reflectography to unveil drawings hidden on the reverse side of the paper, which bore a striking resemblance to Michelangelo’s distinctive style. Her meticulous comparison with a known Michelangelo piece at the Metropolitan Museum of Art led her to confidently assert the sketch’s authenticity.
An Auction House Tradition
The sale of masterpieces for staggering sums has become a hallmark of Christie’s, a tradition that continues to captivate art enthusiasts and collectors alike. For context, the auction house’s history includes the sale of a 500-year-old painting attributed to Leonardo da Vinci, which commanded a jaw-dropping $450 million in 2017. Other monumental sales include Gustav Klimt’s portrait of Elisabeth Lederer, which fetched $236.4 million in November 2025, and a surrealist work by Frida Kahlo that shattered records with a sale price of $54.7 million.
These exorbitant figures are not merely numbers; they reflect the ever-increasing appetite for art as both a cultural treasure and an investment vehicle.
Why it Matters
The phenomenal sale of Michelangelo’s foot sketch underscores the significance of art in our society, not only as a reflection of cultural heritage but also as a lucrative investment. As art continues to command astronomical prices, it raises questions about accessibility and the preservation of artistic legacies. This discovery serves as a reminder that hidden masterpieces may still await discovery in private hands, reinforcing the notion that the past is ever-present, waiting to be unveiled for future generations to appreciate.
