New York — Andy Warhol's "Shot Sage Blue Marilyn" bought for a cool $195 million on Monday, making the enduring portrait of Marilyn Monroe the most costly work by a U.S. artist ever bought at public sale.
The 1964 silkscreen picture reveals Monroe in vibrant close-up - hair yellow, eyeshadow blue and lips purple - on a wealthy blue background. It is also the most costly piece from the twentieth century ever auctioned, in keeping with Christie's public sale home in New York, the place the sale passed off.
The Warhol sale unseated the earlier report holder and one other trendy grasp, Jean-Michel Basquiat, whose 1982 portray "Untitled" of a skull-like face bought for a report $110.5 million at Sotheby's in 2017.
Christie's stated an unnamed purchaser made the acquisition Monday evening. When the public sale was introduced earlier this yr, they estimated it might go for as a lot as $200 million.
"It is a tremendous worth," stated Alex Rotter, chairman of Christie's twentieth and twenty first century artwork division. "Let it sink in; it is fairly one thing."
"That is the place we needed to be, clearly," stated Guillaume Cerutti, CEO of Christie's. "It proves we're in a really resilient artwork market."
The proceeds of the sale will go to the Thomas and Doris Ammann Basis Zurich, which put the portray up for public sale. The muse goals to assist youngsters with well being care and academic applications.
Warhol created multiple picture of Monroe; this specific portray has been exhibited in museums around the globe.