$50 million or more expected to be raised: Philanthropist Thomas Kaplan to auction rare Rembrandt drawing in support of big cat conservation

In a remarkable fusion of artistic legacy and environmental stewardship, philanthropist and conservationist Thomas Kaplan is set to auction a rare Rembrandt drawing in support of one of his greatest passions—saving the world’s big cats.

The drawing, Young Lion Resting (1638–42), is expected to fetch over $50 million at auction on April 29, 2025, potentially breaking records for a work on paper.

Proceeds from the sale will go entirely to Panthera, the global big cat conservation organization Kaplan co-founded in 2006 with his wife, Daphne Recanati Kaplan.

“Wildlife conservation is the one passion I have which surpasses Rembrandt—and I want to attract more people to that cause,” Kaplan says.

Young Lion Resting is currently on view at the H’ART Museum in Amsterdam, part of the exhibition From Rembrandt to Vermeer: Masterpieces from The Leiden Collection, which runs through August 24.

The museum, formerly the Hermitage Amsterdam, became independent following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The upcoming auction could make history.

The current record for a work on paper is held by Raphael’s Head of a Young Apostle, which sold for $48 million in 2012.

Experts believe that the extraordinary quality, provenance, and purpose behind Kaplan’s Rembrandt could inspire collectors to push the boundaries once again.

Beyond his impact in the art world, Thomas Kaplan is one of today’s leading philanthropic voices.

He is deeply committed to wildlife conservation, cultural preservation, and community engagement.

Through Panthera, the Kaplans support big cat conservation efforts in over 50 countries.

They also established the Recanati-Kaplan Center at Oxford University to train conservationists from developing countries and the Orianne Society to protect the Eastern Indigo Snake in the Southeastern U.S.

Kaplan’s philanthropic vision extends into the cultural sphere as well.

He built The Leiden Collection, one of the largest private collections of Dutch Golden Age art, which has been loaned extensively to museums around the world.

Through his vision, Kaplan is safeguarding the past and securing the future—for culture, communities, and the majestic creatures that still roam our planet.

His legacy will live not only in museum halls or auction records, but in every lion’s roar that echoes through a preserved wilderness he helped protect.

In doing so, Kaplan is setting a powerful example for future generations of philanthropists and collectors, showing how great passion can change the world when paired with purpose.