Drawing by Leonardo da Vinci sold at auction for $ 12.2 million

A tiny sketch of a bear by Leonardo da Vinci sold for $12.2 million on Thursday, setting a new auction record for a drawing by the renaissance artist, Report informs, referring to CNN.

Measuring less than 8 square inches, the item is one of only eight Leonardo drawings left in private hands, according to Christie's, the auction house behind the sale.

The sketch was made on pale pink-beige paper using silverpoint, a technique - taught to Leonardo by his master, Andrea del Verrocchio - that involves marking chemically treated paper with silver rods or wire.