Michelangelo's Scribble Sells for $200,000 at New York Auction

The small work by Michelangelo depicts a block of marble, with the word "simile," or "similar" in English, according to Christie's auction house. ANGELA WEISS / AFP/File
The small work by Michelangelo depicts a block of marble, with the word "simile," or "similar" in English, according to Christie's auction house. ANGELA WEISS / AFP/File
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Michelangelo's Scribble Sells for $200,000 at New York Auction

The small work by Michelangelo depicts a block of marble, with the word "simile," or "similar" in English, according to Christie's auction house. ANGELA WEISS / AFP/File
The small work by Michelangelo depicts a block of marble, with the word "simile," or "similar" in English, according to Christie's auction house. ANGELA WEISS / AFP/File

A square scribbled on a yellowed piece of paper by Renaissance genius Michelangelo sold for $201,600 -- 33 times its estimated value, auction house Christie's said Wednesday.
Found stuck to the back of a frame, the small drawing accompanied by a letter from Michelangelo's last direct descendant was initially expected to sell for between $6,000 and $8,000, AFP said.
But Christie's in New York said the piece went under the hammer for "33.6 times its low estimate," without disclosing any details of the buyer.
The small work depicts a block of marble, with the word "simile," or "similar" in English. It is believed to have been drawn while Michelangelo worked on his famed Sistine Chapel ceiling, a Christie's specialist told AFP in January.
The drawing is coupled with a letter written by Cosimo Buonarroti in 1836, in which he offers the piece by his "illustrious forefather Michelangelo" to Sir John Bowring, the future governor of Hong Kong, whose signature appears at the bottom of the sheet.
Christie's specialists found the letter and diagram attached to the back of a different drawing that had been in a private collection for decades, the auction house said in a media statement.
Though unsigned by Michelangelo, Christie's said that research confirmed the great Italian artist was responsible for the small drawing.
Fewer than 10 of Michelangelo's works are thought to be privately owned, according to Christie's, with most housed in the Casa Buonarroti, a museum in Florence, Italy.



Islamic Arts Biennale 2025 Showcases Holy Kaaba Kiswah

The display of the Kaaba cladding is part of the Diriyah Biennale Foundation's initiative to showcase Islamic arts and deepen understanding of its rich history and cultural legacy. (SPA)
The display of the Kaaba cladding is part of the Diriyah Biennale Foundation's initiative to showcase Islamic arts and deepen understanding of its rich history and cultural legacy. (SPA)
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Islamic Arts Biennale 2025 Showcases Holy Kaaba Kiswah

The display of the Kaaba cladding is part of the Diriyah Biennale Foundation's initiative to showcase Islamic arts and deepen understanding of its rich history and cultural legacy. (SPA)
The display of the Kaaba cladding is part of the Diriyah Biennale Foundation's initiative to showcase Islamic arts and deepen understanding of its rich history and cultural legacy. (SPA)

The second edition of the Islamic Arts Biennale 2025 in AlBidaya (the beginning) section of the Western Hajj Terminal at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah will feature a unique event highlighting the entire Kiswah of the Holy Kaaba outside of Makkah for the first time.

This remarkable experience allows visitors to intimately engage with and contemplate the beauty of Islamic craftsmanship, reflected in the intricate details of the cladding fabric and its embroidery adorned with gold and silver threads.

The display of the Kaaba cladding is part of the Diriyah Biennale Foundation's initiative to showcase Islamic arts and deepen understanding of its rich history and cultural legacy. The Biennale offers visitors an immersive experience to delve into the journey of the cladding industry, beginning with the selection of the finest natural silk, progressing through the stages of hand weaving and embroidery with gold and silver threads, and culminating in the final stages of processing.

The Islamic Arts Biennale 2025 will display a remarkable collection of historical Islamic artifacts and contemporary artworks.