The work by Sandro Botticelli, “Angel’s Head,” was sold Thursday in New York at Sothebyʼs for $1.09 mln. According to the experts, this painting was a sketch to “The Virgin and Child with Two Angels and St. John the Baptist”, created in Botticelli’s workshop and kept ay the National Gallery of London.
“Baptism of Christ,” another work by the master, was obtained for $466,000, TASS reports. For the last half a century, the canvas was kept in a private collection, being known to the art historians only by black and white photos.
Another interesting sample was “Madonna with baby,” painted by the masters of Sienna school Cristoforo di Bindoccio and Meo di Piero in circa 1380. This work was part of diptych, the second part of which is considered to be lost.
Overall, the proceeds of the sale of old masters’ works constituted $4.8 mln.