
Study for a seated St. Joseph, his head resting on his right hand
Pen and brown ink heightened with white over black chalk, on beige-pink washed paper.
Squared in black chalk for transfer (£1-1.5 million). UPDATE: IT MADE £1.3 MILLION
The only Botticelli drawing to appear on the market in over 100 years comes up at Sotheby’s in London on July 9. Study for a Seated St. Joseph, his head resting on his right hand, is the only drawing by Sandro Botticelli (1445-1510) in private hands. This is the first sheet by the Renaissance master to come to auction since the 19th century and the only drawing which can be clearly linked with one of his painted compositions. The drawing is a study for the figure of St. Joseph to the left of The Nativity with adoring St. John the Baptist.