It was during the early Renaissance in Italy when portraits of notable individuals first came to be considered high art. Florentine master Sandro Botticelli was at the forefront of this transformation in the second half of the 15th century, depicting his subjects with unprecedented directness and insight. Sotheby’s is proud to present one of Botticelli’s finest portraits, Young Man Holding a Roundel, as the centerpiece of our annual Masters Week series in New York in January 2021. This masterpiece not only encapsulates the ideals, magic and beauty of renaissance Italy but also is one of the greatest Renaissance paintings remaining in private hands.