Posed to be the most expensive 20th-century artwork ever to sell at auction, Shot Sage Blue Marilyn it is among the most iconic paintings in history (estimate upon request; in the region of $200 million USD). An unrivaled example of 20th century art by America's foremost artist, Shot Sage Blue Marilyn is one of the rarest and most transcendent images in existence. The work comes to Christie's from the Thomas and Doris Ammann Foundation in Zurich; all proceeds from the sale will benefit the foundation, which is dedicated to improving the lives of children around the world by establishing support systems focused on providing health and education programs. With XNUMX percent of proceeds going to charity, the sale of this single painting will constitute the philanthropic auction with the highest grossing from the Peggy and David Rockefeller Collection in 2018.
Thomas and Doris Ammann were siblings and founders of Thomas Ammann Fine Art since 1977, a historic gallery in Zurich that supported Impressionist, Modern, Post-war and Contemporary era artists. They have managed the gallery with unrivaled fervor and impeccable taste, establishing it as one of the most influential art spaces in Europe, loved and respected by top collectors from around the world. After her brother's death in 1993, Doris continued to successfully lead the gallery with her grace, knowledge and discretion, while continuing to support the careers of an influential generation of artists during the recession. Patient, diplomatic, and gracious, both brothers had a deep appreciation for art and artists, counting Cy Twombly and Brice Marden tamong their closest friends. With proceeds from the sale benefiting the Thomas and Doris Ammann Foundation, the siblings' legacy will continue in its tradition of goodwill and generosity that will impact children's lives for generations.
Shot Sage Blue Marilyn it is a definitive work within Warhol's oeuvre, contemporary art and the entire art historical canon. Warhol first began to create screenprints of Marilyn Monroe after her death in August 1962. He created reproductions of her face several times in bright colors, often with the features a little askew. In 1964 he developed a more refined and time consuming screen printing technique, antithetical to the mass production for which he was best known, and created a limited number of portraits of the Hollywood legend. In fact, this technique was so difficult that he never returned to it and yet the image remains etched in the visual lexicon of art history.
Provenance of the portrait It includes the best gallery owners of the 20th century, including Leon Kraushar, New York, Leo Castelli Gallery, New York, Fred Mueller, New York, Blum Helman Gallery, New York, and SI Newhouse, New York, Thomas Ammann, Zurich, before being acquired by the current owner. The work has been widely exhibited in major institutions worldwide, including the Guggenheim Museum in New York, the Center Georges Pompidou in Paris, the Tate Modern in London, the Centro de Arte Reina Sofía in Madrid, the Royal Academy of Arts in London, the Museum Ludwig in Cologne, the Neue Nationalgalerie in Berlin , Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art, Netherland's, Stedelijk van Abbemuseum, Fondation Beyeler, Riehen and Pasadena Art Museum.
