Sotheby's auction house witnessed a record-breaking sale in New York City as a rare chalk drawing by Rembrandt was sold for $18m. The tiny piece, titled 'Young Lion Resting', shattered the previous mark set by another Rembrandt work and will now benefit big cat conservation through Panthera, a prominent wildcat charity.
The drawing, which depicts a lion at rest wearing a leash around its neck, is believed to have been drawn by Rembrandt in his early to mid-30s while he was at the height of his artistic powers in Amsterdam. The fact that it's one of only six known lion drawings by Rembrandt highlights its rarity and significance.
The sale of 'Young Lion Resting' was made possible by billionaire philanthropist Thomas Kaplan, who co-founded Panthera with wildlife biologist Alan Rabinowitz. Kaplan has been a long-time admirer of Rembrandt's work and saw the drawing as an opportunity to support his favorite cause. "Wildlife conservation is my one passion which surpasses Rembrandt," he said in a statement.
The proceeds from the sale will now go towards supporting Panthera's mission to protect big cats and their habitats, as well as combating poaching and the illegal wildlife trade. Jon Ayers, chairman of Panthera, described the drawing as "a work that so vividly captures the soul and spirit of lions...now will help protect their living counterparts".
The sale serves as a testament to Rembrandt's enduring legacy and his ability to inspire future generations with his art. As Kaplan noted, it's a fitting way for the masterpiece to be passed on to its next home – in service to the survival of big cats.
The drawing, which depicts a lion at rest wearing a leash around its neck, is believed to have been drawn by Rembrandt in his early to mid-30s while he was at the height of his artistic powers in Amsterdam. The fact that it's one of only six known lion drawings by Rembrandt highlights its rarity and significance.
The sale of 'Young Lion Resting' was made possible by billionaire philanthropist Thomas Kaplan, who co-founded Panthera with wildlife biologist Alan Rabinowitz. Kaplan has been a long-time admirer of Rembrandt's work and saw the drawing as an opportunity to support his favorite cause. "Wildlife conservation is my one passion which surpasses Rembrandt," he said in a statement.
The proceeds from the sale will now go towards supporting Panthera's mission to protect big cats and their habitats, as well as combating poaching and the illegal wildlife trade. Jon Ayers, chairman of Panthera, described the drawing as "a work that so vividly captures the soul and spirit of lions...now will help protect their living counterparts".
The sale serves as a testament to Rembrandt's enduring legacy and his ability to inspire future generations with his art. As Kaplan noted, it's a fitting way for the masterpiece to be passed on to its next home – in service to the survival of big cats.
I mean, who wouldn't want to buy a piece of art that could help save lions from extinction? $18m is insane, but I guess if you're a billionaire with a heart of gold like Thomas Kaplan, it's worth it. 
The fact that the drawing was created by Rembrandt himself is just mind-blowing. Can you imagine seeing one of his original pieces up close? It gives me chills thinking about it... 
It's crazy! And I get why people would want to support conservation efforts through this sale, but can't we think outside the box (or art frame)? Like, how much of the money actually goes towards the charity and not just lining the pockets of the wealthy elite? 
Also, I'm still trying to wrap my head around a Rembrandt drawing being sold at auction. Is this really happening in 2025? 
i mean, can you imagine finding a piece of art that's like 400 years old and knowing its history behind it? like, Rembrandt was just a young dude with an artistic passion... 
it's amazing to think about how his art is still making a difference today. i'm so down for a world where art can be a force for good 
. The fact that this sale will benefit Panthera is pretty cool though - they do some great work protecting big cats. Maybe one day we'll see more art sold for charity like this? 
. I doubt any real money will even reach Panthera's hands.
. Thomas Kaplan's love for Rembrandt's art is pretty inspiring, even if his passion for wildlife conservation trumps the artist's own stuff 
. The fact that it's one of only six known lion drawings by Rembrandt just makes me appreciate it even more - I mean, what other artists can say they made a masterpiece like that? 
his love for wildlife conservation is really inspiring 
this is just insane! like $18m for a tiny drawing by Rembrandt? and it's going towards helping those majestic lions? 
Is it really that important to make people part with their cash for art pieces that benefit animals? Not saying it's a bad thing, but I'm just curious about the motivations behind it all. Maybe someone can shed some light on this and tell me why these sales are so crucial for wildlife charities? 
is it weird that i kinda love how adorable the lion looks with a leash around its neck though? 
anyway, i'm really happy to hear that all the money will go towards helping big cats and their habitats 
. It's amazing how art can be used to make a positive impact on the world. I'm just glad we got to live in a time where these kinds of sales are possible... and where Rembrandt's work is still inspiring new generations 
It's just so cool that Thomas Kaplan was like, "I wanna support wildlife conservation," and then he found this amazing piece to do just that. 
I mean, it's not every day you get to see Rembrandt's work bring people together for a good cause. So here's to the Panthera crew and Rembrandt's masterpiece - they're like totally changing the game! 
A rare Rembrandt chalk drawing sold for $18m and it's all going towards big cat conservation 