New Records in the Classical Art Market; from Artemisia's Self-Portrait to Michelangelo's Drawing

The February 2026 Old Masters auctions in New York confirmed renewed confidence in the high-end historical art market, with strong prices driven by rarity, fresh attributions, and exceptional provenance. Christie’s Old Masters sale achieved a total of approximately $54.3 million, marking its strongest New York result for the category in more than a decade.
One of the most talked-about lots was an early self-portrait by Artemisia Gentileschi, which sold for $5.7 million at Christie’s Old Masters auction, setting a new auction record for the artist. The result reflects the continued reassessment and growing demand for works by women artists of the early modern period.
The standout sale of the week was during Christie’s Old Master and British Drawings sale, a previously unknown drawing attributed to Michelangelo, a miniature drawing of a foot, highly significant study related to the Sistine Chapel ceiling. The drawing achieved $27.2 million, far surpassing expectations and setting a new record for a work on paper by the artist.
Drawings dominated the top prices overall. Rembrandt’s “Young Lion Resting”, one of his most celebrated animal studies, sold for approximately $17.8 million, making it the most expensive Rembrandt drawing ever sold at auction.
Sotheby’s also highlighted the market’s appetite for rare cultural objects with complex histories. A 15th-century Hebrew illuminated manuscript (mahzor), which had resurfaced after a restitution process, sold for $6.4 million. 
Together, the results demonstrate that while the Old Masters market remains selective, museum-quality works with strong scholarly backing and rarity can still generate intense competition and record-breaking prices.