©picture alliance / newscom | JOHN ANGELILLO
Rembrandt's drawing 'Young Lion Resting' has set a world record after being sold by Sotheby's for $17.9 million. The art work depicts a young lion in a relaxed pose, with confident features and vibrant eyes. It's the only one of the artist's six known lion drawings to have remained in the hands of private collectors until now.
The drawing belonged to Dr. Thomas S. Kaplan and his wife, Rembrandt collectors and founders of Panthera, a worldwide organization dedicated to the protection of wild felines. The collector thus combined his two passions, using the proceeds of the sale to support the lion's survival.
A historic auction
The sale price exceeded the previous record for a Rembrandt drawing by almost 15 million: it was the first time in a century that one of his lions had appeared on the market. Alongside the original, a reproduction was created entitled 'Young Lion Vanished', in which the lion is replaced by an empty space, a symbol of the big cat's disappearance from a large part of its natural habitat. Kaplan emphasized that the lion could exist only in captivity if no action is taken, and that this sale will provide vital resources to promote coexistence between humans and wild animals.
The impact of the sale on conservation
The organization will celebrate its 20th anniversary this year, with funds going to scientific initiatives and habitat protection in nearly 40 countries on four continents. Jon Ayers, Chairman of Panthera's Board of Directors, states:
"The spark of life that Rembrandt captured in this lion's eyes lives on today through our field conservation programs. This sale provides Panthera with crucial resources to fight poaching and habitat loss worldwide."
For Kaplan, the key to success lies in working with local communities. Rembrandt's drawing thus becomes a bridge between art, culture and conservation, a symbol of the potential for saving endangered species through creative and concrete initiatives.
Source : Sotheby's
(©GreenMe.it 2026/Managing editor: Selma Keshkire - The Press Junction/Picture : picture alliance / newscom | JOHN ANGELILLO)