In a recent auction, a rare sketch by none other than the esteemed Renaissance master, Michelangelo, depicting a marble block with the word “simile” (meaning “similar” in Italian) inscribed within, was sold for an astonishing $201,600. This remarkable discovery, far surpassing its modest pre-auction estimate of $6,000, has captivated the art world.
The intricate pen-and-ink sketch, measuring a mere 1.8 by 2.6 inches, was found attached to the back of another artwork by an associate of Michelangelo’s. The existence of this sketch was previously hinted at in a catalog from a Christie’s auction held nearly four decades ago, where the accompanying artwork was described as having a scrap of paper “believed to be in Michelangelo’s hand.” Upon its rediscovery last year, experts meticulously examined the sketch and confirmed its authenticity, attributing it to the legendary artist.
Scholars speculate that the sketch was likely part of a larger sheet containing numerous block drawings, potentially intended as a guide for quarry workers responsible for extracting the marble blocks Michelangelo used in his sculptures, or for those responsible for transporting these blocks. Giada Damen, a specialist in old master drawings at Christie’s New York, has highlighted the dual purpose of these sketches, noting that they may have served as instructions for both quarry workers and shippers.
The timing of this sketch aligns with Michelangelo’s work on one of his most celebrated masterpieces, the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, which occupied him between 1508 and 1512. To arrive at pre-auction estimates, experts meticulously compare similar pieces that have recently appeared on the market, considering both the passage of time and the unique characteristics of the current item. Damen acknowledges the inherent difficulty in assigning a monetary value to such a rare and exceptional work of art.
Throughout history, Michelangelo’s sketches have consistently commanded high prices at auctions. In 2008, another sketch by the artist, depicting a nude male figure, was sold at Christie’s for over £73,000 ($92,800), significantly exceeding its initial estimate of £10,000 ($12,700) to £15,000 ($19,000). Two years prior, a more elaborate and detailed sketch, hailed by experts as the artist’s “lost masterpiece,” sold for an astounding €20 million ($21 million).
Emily Snow of The Art Newspaper emphasizes the significance of Michelangelo’s diagrams, considering them testaments to his meticulous technical precision and visionary creativity, which permeated every stage of his artistic process, from preparatory studies to final measurements.
The newly discovered sketch was accompanied by an 1836 letter penned by Michelangelo’s last direct descendant, Michelangelo Buonarroti the Younger, to Sir John Francis Davis, a British diplomat who later served as the Governor of Hong Kong. While the sketch itself bears no signature, Buonarroti’s letter explicitly attributes it to his “illustrious forefather Michelangelo.” Despite the artist’s efforts to destroy many of his sketches before his passing in 1564, approximately 200 sheets have survived. The majority of these are housed in the Casa Buonarroti, a museum in Florence dedicated to Michelangelo, with Christie’s estimating that fewer than ten remain in private hands.
