A rare painting by Italian Renaissance master Sandro Botticelli is poised to achieve over US$80 million (HK$620 million) when it goes under the hammer in New York in January, according to Sotheby’s — setting a record auction price for the artist.

“Young Man Holding a Roundel” has been billed by the auction house as one of the greatest paintings from the era still in private hands. It is expected to smash the US$10.4 million auction record set seven years ago for a painting by the Florence native.