Michelangelo sketch fetches Rs 225 Crore at U.S. Auction

A rare drawing by legendary Italian artist Michelangelo has been sold for a record $27.2 million, equivalent to about Rs. 225 crore, at an auction in the United States, setting a new benchmark for works by the Renaissance master.
The artwork, a small red-chalk drawing measuring about five inches in height, depicts a human foot with the heel slightly raised from the ground and a faint shadow beneath. The toes appear gently contracted, reflecting Michelangelo’s keen anatomical precision even in his early years.
Art experts believe the drawing to be among Michelangelo’s earliest surviving works and have described it as the highest price ever paid for a rare drawing by the artist. The sketch is considered part of the preparatory works linked to his creations for the Sistine Chapel, for which only about 50 drawings are known to exist.
The auction, held in New York, attracted intense global interest. Collectors participated in person, by telephone, and through online bidding platforms. The artwork changed hands after a spirited 45-minute bidding battle, underscoring strong demand for museum-quality Renaissance works.
Auctioneers said the sale highlighted the enduring global appeal of Michelangelo’s art and the premium placed on authenticated early works by Old Masters.