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The World’s Highest Valued Paintings by Botticelli and Rembrandt are Coming to Dubai

Botticelli's Young Man Holding a Roundel.

Botticelli’s “Young Man Holding a Roundel”. Photo: Courtesy of Sotheby’s

Auction house Sotheby’s is bringing two of the world’s most valuable paintings to Dubai.

Italian painter Sandro Botticelli’s “Young Man Holding a Roundel” and Dutch artist Rembrandt van Rijn‘s “Abraham and the Angels” pieces are being brought to the Middle East, ahead of the auction at Sotheby‘s New York in January 2021. The two masterful paintings hold a combined estimated value in excess of US $100 million.

“It is a real thrill to be able to bring to the UAE works by two titans of art history,” says head of Sotheby‘s UAE, Katia Nounou Boueiz. “Exhibiting the highest-estimated Old Master in Sotheby’s history in the heart of Dubai not only reinforces our long-standing commitment to bringing the best of our worldwide offering to the region, but also the standing of the UAE in the global art scene. Both the Botticelli and Rembrandt are exceptionally beautiful to behold and are immediately elevated by being seen in the flesh, so I look forward to welcoming as many art lovers as we can to the DIFC,” she adds.

Botticelli’s Young Man Holding a Roundel” is regarded as the ultimate Renaissance portrait. With his work depicting the later stages of the 15th century, the Florentine artist is often referred to synonymously with the Early Italian Renaissance period. Widely celebrated in his own time as well as he is today, Botticelli has created some of the most exceptional and interesting portraits in the history of Western Art, but it is the “Young Man Holding a Roundel” that is frequently praised as one of his finest creations. Sotheby’s will showcase Botticelli’s exquisite portrait, which is estimated to be valued in excess of $80 million, making it one of the most significant portraits to ever appear at auction.

Rembrandt's Abraham and the Angels.

Rembrandt’s “Abraham and the Angels”. Photo: Courtesy of Sotheby’s

Rembrandt’s visually captivating “Abraham and the Angels,”  painting is one of his finest creations. The Dutch artist produced a total of 136 pieces throughout his career, however, this painting is one of only five remaining Rembrandt creations that is privately held; with a large majority currently being displayed in museums across the world. The “Abraham and the Angels” painting is a small visual beauty, measuring at just 16cm x 21cm and has previously appeared at auction, in London in 1848 where it sold for £64 (approximately AED312). Now, Rembrandt’s piece is returning to auction in January, with an estimated value of $20-30 million.

The exhibition of the painting will take place at Sotheby’s Dubai, DIFC on December 16 from 10am-6pm. For more information please visit Sothebys.com

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