MARILYN THE MUSE: TWO IMPORTANT WARHOL PRINTS OF MARILYN MONROE STAR IN BONHAMS’ PRINTS AND MULTIPLES SALE
Left: Andy Warhol (American, 1928-1987) Marilyn Monroe (Marilyn) (Feldman & Schellmann II.22) Screenprint in colours, 1967, 914 x 914mm (36 x 36in), estimate: £120,000-180,000; Right: Andy Warhol (American, 1928-1987) Marilyn Monroe (Marilyn) (Feldman & Schellmann II.25) Screenprint in colours, 1967, 914 x 914mm (36 x 36in), estimate: £100,000-150,000
London – Two of the most coveted Marilyn Monroe portraits by Andy Warhol will star in Bonhams’ Prints & Multiples sale on Tuesday 10 December at New Bond Street, London. The works are offered with estimates of £120,000-180,000 and £100,000-150,000.
In 1962, upon hearing the news of Marilyn Monroe’s death, Andy Warhol sought to capture her in a portrait. A publicity still of the actress, taken from Niagara (1953), became the source of his inspiration, from which Warhol would create a portfolio of ten screenprints in vibrant colours. These were some of the first prints Warhol produced and distributed through his print-publishing business, Factory Additions. Warhol cropped the image of Monroe into a headshot, which he composed in ten coloured screenprinted versions. Each image is the product of five screens: one printing the photographic image of the actress and four holding different areas of colour. Two prints from the celebrated Marilyn series now come to Bonhams, in striking red and green colourways.
“ We are delighted to be offering such an exceptional selection of works in our upcoming Prints & Multiples sale, starring some extraordinary, rare prints by Andy Warhol. The vibrant red and pink Marylin is particularly special, as it reveals Warhol’s ongoing fascination with his muse, making history as one of the most celebrated Pop works to ever be created. In addition to the many highly sought-after works of American Pop Art, from Warhol to Lichtenstein, the sale also honours further important developments in the genre of printmaking by offering works by celebrated print masters including Rembrandt, Pablo Picasso, David Hockney and Bridget Riley. With something in the sale for every collector across art historical periods, we expect significant interest.”
Andy Warhol (American, 1928-1987) $ (1) (see F. & S. II.274-279) The complete set of six screenprints in unique colour combinations, 1982. Estimate: £250,000-350,000
The Dollar Sign ($) set by Warhol, 1982, is another exceptional highlight of the sale with an estimate of £250,000-350,000. The lot comprises a complete set of six screenprints in unique colour variations, making this an incredibly special group. One of Warhol’s most recognisable and powerful images, Warhol employs his signature repeating design this time not with an existing image but instead his own dollar sign symbol inspired by commercial typography and his former career as an illustrator. Transforming a financial symbol into an artistic image, Warhol’s Dollar Sign screenprints exemplify the artist’s signature style, blurring the lines between art and commerce.
David Hockney R.A. (British, born 1937) Pool Made with Paper and Blue Ink for Book Lithograph in colours, 1980. Estimate: £30,000-50,000
Early prints by David Hockney
The sale will also include 15 rare works by David Hockney from the 1960s and 1980s, offering collectors the opportunity to acquire works from earlier stages of the artist’s printmaking career, the majority of these works originate from a single-owner collection. The collection is led by the earliest work, My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean, 1961, an etching completed by the artist on his first visit to New York as an art student. Hockney collages the head of George Washington from a United States postage stamp. The work is offered with an estimate of £8,000-12,000.
Other highlights of the 91-lot live sale include:
Sybil Andrews (1898-1992), Speedway. Estimate: £40,000-60,000
Yayoi Kusama (b.1929), Pumpkin (YY). Estimate: £40,000-50,000
David Hockney (b.1937), Pool Made with Paper and Blue Ink for Book. Estimate: £30,000-50,000
Pablo Picasso (1881-1973), Vénus et l’amour d’après Cranach. Estimate: £30,000-50,000
Roy Lichtenstein (1923-1997), Still Life with Red Jar. Estimate: £12,000-18,000
In addition to the live sale, Bonhams will hold an online Prints & Multiples sale on bonhams.com running until 3 December 2024. The 211-lot sale will feature an impressive variety of prints spanning from the 17th century to the 21st century, from Old Masters to contemporary prints. Highlights include works by Giovanni Battista Piranesi, Thomas Gainsborough, L.S. Lowry, Dame Barbara Hepworth, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Sonia Delaunay, Pablo Picasso and David Hockney among others.
About The Bonhams Network
Bonhams is a global network of auction houses, with the largest number of international salerooms, offering the widest range of collecting categories and selling at all price points. Bonhams is recognised for its bespoke service, and a dedication to local market relationships, enhanced by a global platform. With 14 salerooms, Bonhams presents over 1,000 sales annually, across more than 60 specialist categories, including fine art, collectables, luxury, wine & spirits, and collector cars.
Founded in 1793, Bonhams has representatives in more than 30 countries and operates flagship salerooms in London, New York, Paris, Los Angeles, and Hong Kong. In 2022, Bonhams added four international auction houses to its network: Bukowskis, Stockholm; Bruun Rasmussen, Copenhagen; Cornette de Saint Cyr, Paris and Brussels; and Skinner, Massachusetts. The success of Bonhams’ global strategy is a result of recognising the shift in growing intercontinental buying and increased digital engagement.
In 2023, Bonhams achieved 14% growth with $1.14 billion in turnover. Recent important auctions and landmark single-owner collections, include the white glove sales of Sir Michael Caine: The Personal Collection, Alain Delon: Sixty Years of Passion; Sir Roger Moore: The Personal Collection; Personal Property of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and The Robert & Jean-Pierre Rousset Collection of Asian Art: A Century of Collecting. Other notable single-owner sales included The Estate of Barbara Walters: American Icon; The Alan and Simone Hartman Collection; The Crown Auction: Props and Costumes and The Claude de Marteau Collection.
Top lots for 2023 include 1967 Ferrari 412P Berlinetta, Sold at Quail Lodge, US for US$30,255,000. Tipu Sultan’s Bedchamber Sword (sold in London for £14m – a world record for both an Islamic and an Indian object); Paul Signac (1863-1935), Sisteron, 1902. Sold for US$8,580,000 (estimate US$4-6 million), and Claude Monet (1840-1926), La Seine près de Giverny, 1888. Sold for US$6,352,500 (estimate US$4-6m), both from the Alan and Simone Hartman Collection; A Gilt Copper Alloy figure of Virupaksha, Central Tibet, Densatil Monastery, Early 15th century. Sold for HK$37.9m (£4,060,326) in Hong Kong. Yoshitomo Nara (born 1959) Three Stars. Sold for HK$36,754,000 (£3,930,914), also in Hong Kong.
For more information about these auctions and others featured By Bonhams, please visit their site. Bonhams can also be found on Instagram, Facebook, X, YouTube, and Pinterest.
