An ultra-rare portrait by the famed Italian painter Sandro Botticelli might fetch $80 million or even a lot more in regards in place for sale made at Sotheby’s on Thursday, by You.

The auction marks the initial big test of the art market this season, along with the willingness of worldwide collectors to pay 8 or maybe nine figures for trophy works while in the health crisis as well as market volatility. If it does very well, it might help enhance the standing as well as rates for Old Master paintings at a point in time when almost all of a lot of money in the art community is actually chasing newer, flashier works from contemporary and post-war artists.

“There is an engaged worldwide audience and interest for this painting,” stated Charles Stewart, CEO of Sotheby’s.

The Botticelli painting, referred to as “Young Man Holding a Roundel,” is considered to experience been painted roughly 1480. It is one of more or less a dozen portraits attributed to Botticelli and one of only a few in private hands.

The seller is actually reported to become the estate of late property billionaire Sheldon Solow, who purchased the portion found in 1982 for $1.2 huge number of.

To market the job throughout the pandemic, Sotheby’s viewable the painting around the world to collectors as well as potential bidders.

“The young man of the painting has done more traveling during Covid than probably anyone we know,” Stewart believed.

Botticelli is most famous for “Birth of Venus,” that portrays the Roman goddess emerging from a seashell. The previous record for his work was the 2013 marketing of “madonna as well as Kid with Young Saint John the Baptist” for $10.4 million.

The work will be part of Sotheby’s “Master Paintings & Sculpture” sale on Thursday.