Rare da Vinci sketch to be auctioned
( 2001-07-06 08:49 ) (7 )

The most significant drawing by Leonardo da Vinci to be sold at auction since the 1930s goes on sale next week, Christie's said on Thursday.

The silverpoint study called Horse and Rider, a preparatory study for the artist's unfinished "Adoration of the Magi", has an estimated value of over 3.5 million pounds ($4.92 million), said Noel Annesley, chairman of Christie's International Specialist Group.

"A drawing of this quality has not come on the market since the war," said Annesley.

"Apart from the sheer beauty of the image -- the horse, and the illusion of movement (of the rider)...it's quite unusual to find a drawing that is directly connected with a painting."

A sketch by da Vinci's contemporary, Michelangelo, "The Risen Christ", initially estimated at between four and six million pounds, sold for 8.1 million pounds at Christie's last July. That price was a world record for the category.

About a quarter of the 175-lot auction to go under the hammer on July 10 are relatively unknown works, Annesley said. The auction includes works that date from the high Renaissance up until the beginning of Impressionism.

A sketch by the 17th-century French draftsman and painter Nicholas Poussin would also be auctioned, he said.

The black chalk, pen and brown ink study of warriors and hippocamps, horse-like sea monsters, was discovered about 15 months ago in Europe, Annesley said.

The entire collection was expected to fetch at least 20 million pounds.