A rare Rembrandt drawing could soon break auction records\u2014and it\u2019s all for a good cause. According to The Art Newspaper, billionaire art collector Thomas Kaplan plans to sell Young Lion Resting (1638\u201342) to raise funds for wildlife Conservation.<\/p>\n
The drawing, now on display at Amsterdam\u2019s H\u2019ART Museum, shows a lion calmly reclining, likely sketched from a live animal at a 17th-century fair.<\/p>\n
Kaplan, who chairs the precious metals company Electrum Group, is no stranger to rare art. His collection includes 17 Rembrandt paintings and the only privately owned Vermeer.<\/p>\n
But Conservation is his biggest passion. \u201cWildlife conservation is the one passion I have which surpasses Rembrandt,\u201d Kaplan told The Art Newspaper, adding he hopes the sale will draw more people to the cause.<\/p>\n
Proceeds will go to Panthera, the New York-based Conservation group Kaplan founded. Panthera works to protect the world\u2019s seven big cat species, from lions to snow leopards.<\/p>\n
The auction could fetch \u201cmultiples of tens\u201d of millions, Kaplan hinted, making it one of the most valuable works on paper ever sold. For reference, Raphael\u2019s Head of a Young Apostle holds the current record at $48 million.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s heartwarming to see someone use high art to help animals who need it most. If more collectors followed Kaplan\u2019s lead, the art world could become a real force for good.<\/p>\n
Supporting causes like Panthera can make a huge difference for endangered species. Let\u2019s keep pushing for a kinder world by donating, supporting Conservation groups, or simply spreading the word about efforts that protect animals and the planet!<\/p>\n
This article<\/a> by Nicholas Vincent was first published by One Green Planet on 17 April 2025. Lead Image: Image Credit :Laxmikant Ameenagad\/Shutterstock. Wildlife continues to face threats, which include hunting, poaching, illegal trade in animal products, habitat loss as well as a rapidly changing climate.<\/p>\n Become a Wildlife Champion by supporting our conservation partners<\/a> with a monthly donation as little as $1.<\/p>\n
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