The authorship of the shower cabin, a small figure of St. Sebastian confirmed by several experts, including the leading expert on Leonardo of the Metropolitan Museum of art. The work was estimated at 15 million euros

When in March of this year at the Paris branch of the auction house Tajan doctor retired, he brought 14 not framed drawings he inherited from his father, the attention of a specialist in the old masters Tadde Prata (Thaddée Prate) immediately caught a small (19 × 13) sketch pen and ink depicting the Roman Martyr Saint Sebastian.

Tedde Prat immediately realized that this sixteenth century drawing worth a closer look. For help he called upon the independent expert and the dealer the chart of the old masters Patrick de Baiser (Patrick de Bayser). On the back there were pictures of a candle flame, and labels in italics in a manner that developed in the era of the Italian Renaissance. De Baiser helped to determine that the drawing was made by a Lefty (like Leonardo).

On Prat and de Bayser decided to go to Carmen Bambach, curator in the Department of Italian and Spanish charts at the Metropolitan Museum, which organized the Museum in 2003 the exhibition "Leonardo da Vinci. Master-чертежник". At the end of March she first saw the picture in Paris and was amazed by its quality. "The attribution is absolutely indisputable. This is an obvious case, and a terrific opening," — Bambach said in an interview with the New York Times. According to the expert, in this illustration, so many ideas, so much energy in the study of the shape, so much spontaneity, as if you are standing behind the shoulder of the artist and watch the process of creating the work.

best known three graphic sketch of Leonardo with Saint Sebastian, including the newly found, which are believed to have been preparatory sketches for a lost painting. The last sketch that Carmen Bambach considers the best of three, in her opinion, was created where-то between 1482 and 1485, when Leonardo lived in Milan.

It is the first found figure of Leonardo for the last 16 years. Previous similar finding was made in 2000, when Bambah authenticated the picture with Hercules 1506-1508 years.

the fate of "St. Sebastian" are not yet clear. In October he took the examination in the Louvre, but the official results have not yet been published. France may classify the pattern to the national heritage and to prohibit its export for up to 30 months to be able to buy it back for the people. If this does not happen, then the Leonardo may well get to the auction. In this case, evaluation can come close to 15 million euros.

the Material was prepared by Maria Onuchina, AI

Sources: artnet.com, artinvestment.ru