This Simple Sketch Turned Out to Be an Original Michelangelo Worth Millions The small sketch was created for the Sistine Chapel. Close Credit: Fine Art / Getty Images Key Points A California man discovered that a sketch inherited from his grandmother is an authentic Michelangelo drawing, confirmed after a six-month analysis by Christie's specialists.Christie's authenticated the 16th-century sketch as a study for the Libyan Sibyl on the Sistine Chapel ceiling, with materials and style matching other known Michelangelo works.The rare 5-inch drawing—one of only 10 Michelangelo Sistine Chapel studies in private hands—is heading to auction in 2026, where it is expected to sell for up to $2 million. Many children and grandchildren inherit their loved one's belongings, some valuable, others not so much—few, though, receive a Michelangelo. But that's what happened to a California man who was handed down a framed sketch from his grandmother. The small sketch of a pointed foot with toes planted on the floor read "Michelangelo Saint-Saphorin." This lead the new owner to submit a photo of the piece to Christie's online portal, where members of the public are able to submit pieces of art to the auction house to see whether they are worth anything. Credit: Fine Art / Getty Images "I immediately thought, this drawing looks very good," Giada Damen, a specialist in old master drawings at Christie's, told The New York Times. "I was excited," she told the publication. "This looked like a 16th-century drawing. The client filled in a box saying the name of the artist was 'Michelangelo,' but I get a lot of 'Michelangelos' and 'Leonardos.'" Following a six-month analysis, Damen concluded that the paper likely dated to the 16th century. Infrared reflectography revealed additional drawings in black chalk on the back of the paper. She also compared the sketch to another Michelangelo drawing owned by The Metropolitan Museum of Art. The red chalk of that piece matched the newly discovered work. The drawing is of the outstretched foot of the Libyan Sibyl, one of the colossal figures on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. According to Christie’s, the Italian Renaissance master drew the image around 1511 or 1512 while preparing to paint one of the famous frescoes. Now, the 5-inch-tall drawing is heading to auction, where it's expected to fetch up to $2 million. Don't Miss A Sculpture Purchased for $6 and Used as a Doorstop Is Actually a Masterpiece Worth Millions 10 Collectibles That Could Be Worth Serious Money According to Christie’s, the owner claimed the drawing had been in his family since the late 18th century, when his European ancestors acquired it. The illustration was initially part of an Italian art collection. In the 18th century, it entered the collection of Swiss diplomat Armand François Louis de Mestral de Saint-Saphorin, an ancestor of the current owner. It's one of about 50 surviving sketches Michelangelo made for the Sistine Chapel and one of only 10 in private hands, according to Christie's. On February 5, 2026, it will become the first unrecorded study for the Sistine Chapel to hit the auction block. Explore more: News