Andy Warhol

Frederick W. Hughes, New York (Acquired directly from the artist)
Sale: Sotheby's, New York, Ten Paintings by Andy Warhol from the Collection of Frederick W. Hughes, 3 May 1993, Lot 25
Private Collection, Japan

Colours: The colours in the catalogue illustration are washed out and the overall tonality is much stronger and warmer in the original work with the flesh tones tending more to pink and the background to intense violet. Condition: This work is in very good condition. There is minor wear to the corner tips with associated tiny paint losses in the lower two. There are two small rub marks to the lower section of the right hand edge; one to the top edge approximately 35cm along from the left corner; and one to the bottom edge approximately 20cm along from the right corner. There is a small brown media accretion towards the top right hand corner minute black speck of media accretion 25 cm up from the lower left corner. There are several minute craquelure above the right shoulder. All the above are unobtrusive and visible only upon close inspection. No retouching is apparent under ultra-violet light.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Executed in 1982 shortly after the marriage of Lady Diana Spencer to Prince Charles, the present portrait of Princess Diana reflects Andy Warhol's uncanny ability to select iconic, timeless images that embody the zeitgeist of their age. Ever since his first portraits of Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, Jackie Kennedy and Liz Taylor in the 60s, through to those of Chairman Mao in the 70s, Warhol's portraits present an unbroken series of celebrated personalities who either already had, or would become not just stars, but also cultural icons.

Many of Warhol's greatest images have grown more poignant with the passing of time, as hindsight of their subject's fading glory, or often less fortunate fate, casts new meaning and significance upon their subjects. Nowhere is this more apparent than in his portrait Princess Diana whose accidental death in Paris ten years ago has eternally scarred living memories of her. Warhol's images of Jackie and Marilyn had at the time of their creation been intended as memento mori of the recently deceased stars cut short in their prime, and he later commented that they were infact an unconscious prelude to his Death and Disasters series. In a similar way with his portraits of John Lennon, Elvis and Lenin, this portrait of Diana depicting the young princess aged just twenty one has now become radically transformed by subsequent tragic events to embody more than any other the artist's dual fascination with celebrity and the fragility of life.