Rare Rembrandt lion drawing fetches $17.86m, proceeds to benefit wildlife conservation

A rare 17th-century drawing of a lion by Dutch Golden Age painter Rembrandt sold for $17.86 million at Sotheby’s last week, marking a historic moment for both the art market and wildlife conservation, as all proceeds from the sale will benefit Panthera — the world’s leading wild cat conservation organization.

The sketch was sold by American billionaire Thomas S. Kaplan. It is the only Rembrandt lion drawing remaining in private hands, and the sale represents the first time a Rembrandt lion drawing has appeared at auction in over a century.

The other five known lion drawings by the artist, dating from the late 1630s to the 1640s, are held in museum collections across London, Paris, Amsterdam, and Rotterdam.

The drawing has now become the most valuable Rembrandt drawing ever sold at auction.

Prior to Wednesday’s auction, the drawing was on an international tour with exhibitions in Paris, New York, London, Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong, and Riyadh, generating significant interest from collectors worldwide.