With combined results surpassing the $100 million mark — fueled by a riveting competition for a rare Botticelli, an ancient Egyptian sculpture, and masterworks by several luminary women painters — the eight Sotheby’s auctions comprising Masters Week 2022 signal healthy signs for the art market at the start of the year.

Sandro Botticelli’s Man of Sorrows realized $45.4 million in an unexpected three-way bidding war. Previously believed to be produced by the artist’s students, in 2009 the Städel Museum in Frankfurt reattributed it to Botticelli, in part due to technical analysis conducted by Sotheby’s. Man of Sorrows also becomes the second-highest sale price for a Botticelli following Young Man Holding a Roundel, which sold at Sotheby’s for $92.2 million last year.

Check out the live video of the auction:
https://www.sothebys.com/en/articles/botticelli-powers-masters-week-results?cmp=email_sothebys_selects_29-Jan-22_Botticelli_Powers_Masters_Week_Results&locale=en&utm_campaign=Sothebys_Selects_LIVE_New&utm_content=email_message_b&utm_medium=email&utm_source=zaius

Photo credit: Sothey’s