Michelangelo's Study for the Risen Christ is a pen, red and black chalk preparatory work for a marble statue commissioned for the Church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva in Rome. Michelangelo began to carve the statue in 1514, abandoning it in 1516 when he struck a black vein in the marble that would have ruined the face of the figure. He worked on a new block in 1519, finishing in 1520. It is the only statue the artist completed in the 30 years following the painting of the Sistine Chapel.
From the collection of Sir Brinsley Ford, who bought it in 1936 at Christie's, the family are to sell it in lieu of death taxes after failing to find a national institution that could raise the funds to buy it.
It is expected to fetch £4.5m.
Michelangelo's Study for the Risen Christ
UK: ONE of the most important drawings to appear at auction in London will be put up for sale at Christie's on July 4.
