An ultra rare portrait from the famed Italian painter Sandro Botticelli could fetch $80 million or more when it comes in place for sale at Sotheby’s on Thursday, by You.

The auction represents the very first big test of the art market this season, in addition to the willingness of global collectors to pay 8 or maybe 9 figures for trophy works while in the health crisis as well as market volatility. When it does very well, it may help boost the reputation as well as rates for Old Master paintings at a moment when most of big money in the art community is actually chasing newer, flashier works coming from post-war and contemporary artists.

“There is an involved global audience and interest for this painting,” mentioned Charles Stewart, CEO of Sotheby’s.

The Botticelli painting, referred to as “Young Man Holding a Roundel,” is considered to have been painted approximately 1480. It’s one of roughly a dozen portraits linked to Botticelli and one particular of only a handful in private hands.

The seller is actually claimed to be the estate of the late property billionaire Sheldon Solow, exactly who got the portion inside 1982 for $1.2 million.

To promote the job during the pandemic, Sotheby’s displayed the painting all over the world to collectors as well as potential bidders.

“The young man of the painting has completed more traveling during Covid than most likely anybody we know,” Stewart said.

Botticelli is most known for “Birth of Venus,” that portrays the Roman goddess appearing out of a seashell. The previous record for the work of his was the 2013 selling of Child as well as “madonna with Young Saint John the Baptist” for $10.4 zillion.

The work will be a portion of Sotheby’s “Master Paintings & Sculpture” marketing on Thursday.