On 8 July, as part of its 'Exceptional Sale' in London, Christie's presented one of the last eight drawings by Leonardo da Vinci still in private hands.
Head of a Bear, considered a very realistic depiction of the animal by standards of the time, was offered with an estimate of £8-12 million, which clearly anticipated a record for a drawing by the artist.
See also: The Works of 10 Famous Artists
After a very short bidding session, the hammer fell at £7.5 million, selling to American collectors. The drawing, which measures just 7 x 7 cm sold with fees for £8.8 million, constituting a new world record for a drawing by da Vinci.
Head of a Bear dethrones Horse and Rider, a silver-tipped sketch that had held the record since 2001, when it sold at Christie's for £8.1 million.
