In a powerful intersection of art and activism, billionaire collector and conservationist Thomas Kaplan has announced the forthcoming auction of Young Lion Resting, a rare and emotionally resonant drawing by Rembrandt van Rijn. Created between 1638 and 1642, the work captures a lion in repose - but its journey is far from still.
Currently on view at Amsterdam's H'ART Museum, the drawing is expected to break records when it goes under the hammer next year. But unlike many high-profile art sales, this one carries a deeper mission: funding global efforts to protect endangered big cats.
“Wildlife conservation is the one passion I have which surpasses Rembrandt...”— Thomas Kaplan
Kaplan, whose Leiden Collection is one of the world's most significant private holdings of 17th-century Dutch art, has long been a champion of both Rembrandt's legacy and wildlife conservation. "Wildlife conservation is the one passion I have which surpasses Rembrandt," Kaplan remarked. "And I want to attract more people to that cause."
The drawing itself - marked by Rembrandt's mastery of line, form, and emotional depth - feels symbolic of Kaplan's dual passions. As the lion rests on paper, it may soon roar into action, helping protect its real-life counterparts in the wild.
This upcoming sale not only spotlights a rare work by one of history's greatest artists - it reminds us that art can serve something greater than prestige: it can protect the world it reflects.
- ▸ The Art Newspaper, “Billionaire collector Thomas Kaplan to sell Rembrandt lion drawing to raise funds for wildlife conservation,” 10 Apr 2025.
- ▸ Smithsonian Magazine, “Rembrandt’s Stunning Sketch of a Lion Will Be Sold at Auction to Fund Wildlife Conservation Efforts,” 18 Apr 2025.
- ▸ Artlyst, “Rare Rembrandt Lion Drawing Auctioned to Fund Big Cat Conservation Efforts,” 10 Apr 2025.
- ▸ Lifestyles Magazine, “$50 million or more expected to be raised: Philanthropist Thomas Kaplan to auction rare Rembrandt drawing in support of big cat conservation,” 8 Apr 2025.
- ▸ The Leiden Collection, “Young Lion Resting” (catalogue entry), accessed 28 Apr 2025.
- ▸ Focusing on Wildlife, “Billionaire to Sell Rembrandt Drawing to Help Big Cats Conservation,” 23 Apr 2025.
- ▸ Art Soul Life Magazine, “Roaring for a Cause: Billionaire Collector Thomas Kaplan to Sell Rembrandt Lion Drawing for Wildlife Conservation,” 12 Apr 2025.
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