Old Master Drawings

As a market leader in Old Master Drawings, Christie’s offer a wide range of European drawings by 15th- to 19th-century artists, regularly achieving auction records for works by many of history’s greatest draughtsman, from Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Raphael to Francisco de Goya, Anthony van Dyck and Jean-Honoré Fragonard.

Christie’s is the only auction house to present drawings throughout the year across its three international salerooms, with dedicated auctions in New York and Paris, and selling alongside Old Master Paintings in London. A focus on quality, scholarship and distinguished provenance ensures that these sales attract a wide audience of collectors and public institutions.

Alongside auctions, the department offers a bespoke private sales service, providing our clients with flexibility and discretion when buying or selling works of art outside of the auction calendar.

Please contact one of the department’s specialists based in London, New York and Paris for any enquiries.
The artist's right hand by Hendrick Goltzius

Upcoming auctions

No upcoming Old Master Drawings auctions

Our specialists are currently preparing our next Old Master Drawings auctions. In the meantime, browse results from past auctions.

VIEW PAST AUCTIONS

Market report: 2024 Old Master Drawings

Find out more about our market leadership

READ NOW
An old, faded sketch depicting multiple dynamic figures of men in various action poses, drawn with precision using red chalk.

Request an estimate

Get a complimentary valuation in three simple steps with our online estimate tool.

GET STARTED

Contact us

From free valuations to market advice, our specialists are here to answer your questions.

  • Noël Annesley

    Noël Annesley

    Senior Consultant

    London

    Noël Annesley joined Christie’s in 1964. Fifty-four years later he is still working there, and in September 2016 he organised the sale at King Street of the collection of Brian Sewell, his first boss, who had left Christie’s in 1967 and gone on to become a celebrated journalist. Together they set up the department of Prints and Drawings. Over the years Noël has made some exciting discoveries. One of them, a magnificent drawing by the early 16th Century Venetian artist Sebastiano del Piombo, now belonging to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, was included in the exhibition ‘Michelangelo and Sebastiano’ at the National Gallery, London, earlier this year. It was in the Michelangelo drawings exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum, New York, November 2017-February 2018. Noël took his first auction in 1967, and over the years achieved record prices for Titian, Canaletto, Michelangelo and Raphael. He organised and conducted the celebrated sales of Old Master Drawings from Chatsworth in 1984 and 1987, and Old Master Prints in 1986. In 2007 he sold Turner’s famous watercolour ‘The Blue Rigi’ for £5.8 million. It is now in the Tate Gallery. He served as Deputy Chairman of Christie’s International plc from 1992-2000, and was a long serving Trustee of the Dulwich Picture Gallery, and a Governor of the Yehudi Menuhin School.
  • Murray Macaulay

    Murray Macaulay

    Specialist

    London

    With almost two decades experience as a Print Specialist at Christie’s, Murray is a seasoned expert with an expansive knowledge of his field and of the print market. Murray qualified with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Rhodes University, South Africa, where he trained as a printmaker, before joining Christie’s in 2000 as Head of Prints at Christie’s South Kensington. Murray moved to King Street in 2008, where he co-ordinated several record-breaking sales, including Contemporary Editions: Works from the Paragon Press (2008), Hockney on Paper (2012) and James Ensor Prints: The Mira Jacob Collection (2014). Of the many wonderful prints which have passed through his hands, some of Murray’s highlights include Albrecht Dürer’s Samson Rending the Lion (sold for £434,500 in 2015), Rembrandt’s The Three Trees (sold for £434,500 in 2013), Edward Wadsworth’s Turret ship in dry dock (sold for £114,000 in 2006), Picasso’s Buste de femme d’après Cranach de Jeune £410,500 in 2014) and David Hockney’s Fish and Chip Shop (sold for £18,750 in 2017). Before becoming Head of Department in London in 2016, Murray was the director of Multiplied, a fair hosted by Christie’s devoted to contemporary editions (2010 -2015). Murray travels widely in Europe with a special focus on France, Holland, Spain and Switzerland.

Latest stories

View All
Three head studies of a girl wearing a hat

Why wait for the next auction?

Buy or sell on your schedule with Christie’s Private Sales.

DISCOVER NOW

Buying and selling

how-to-buy-8x5

How to buy

Buying at Christie’s has never been easier or more accessible, whether you want to attend a live auction, bid online or purchase directly from our Private Sales service.

how-to-sell-8x5

How to sell

Selling your art or object at Christie’s is a smooth experience. We’ll dedicate our global network and art market expertise to get the best price for your item.

find-what-you-love

Frequently asked questions

Need help? Find your answers in our list of frequently asked questions — from online account creation to buying, selling and Private Sales.

Sign up for updates on Old Master Drawings auctions and exhibitions

Footer

© Christie's 2025