The painting Shot Sage Blue Marilyn, painted by Andy Warhol in 1964, two years after the death of Marilyn Monroe, was sold for 195 million on Monday. It becomes the most expensive piece of art in the 20and century.
Updated yesterday at 12:02 p.m.
This iconic portrait of the American actress, part of a series, is pop art artist Andy Warhol’s most popular painting. It depicts a promotional photo of Monroe for her 1953 film, Niagara.
In less than four minutes of auction at Christie’s in New York, the work was sold for 170 million before fees, for a total of 195 million including fees.
Shot Sage Blue is now the most expensive piece of art in the 20and century. The record was held by Les femmes d’Alger, by Pablo Picasso.
The buyer of Warhol’s painting is called Larry Gagosian, an art dealer who owns several galleries. The work was previously in the collection of Swiss art dealers Thomas and Doris Ammann.