Painting Of Marilyn Monroe Sold For Whopping $195 Million, Here's All About It

The painting of Marilyn Monroe by Andy Warhol was auctioned for $195 million, which makes it the most expensive piece of the 20th Century art. It was painted by Warloh in 1964 and titled Shot Sage Blue Marilyn. The painting, of the most popular icon of her time who continues to influence generations even now, was based on the popular picture of the actor.

It was auctioned at the Christie's auction and done under the organisation's 20th/21st Century sale week which commenced with The Collection of Thomas and Doris Ammann Evening Sale. The painting of Marilyn Monroe was auctioned yesterday for $195,040,000.

According to the website information, this painting is the most expensive 20th-century artwork to be sold at auction. Warhol's painting of Monroe was of acrylic and silkscreen on ink on linen. Not only was this auction the most expensive, but it was also the second most expensive artwork to sell at the auction of all time. The most expensive was Leonardo da Vinci's Salvator Mundi, which was sold in 2017.

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Marilyn Monroe Painting

The buyer of the painting will be invited to partner with the Thomas and Doris Ammann Foundation, as well as play an active role in fulfilling the global mission to children's aid. The site also states that 100 percent of the foundation's proceeds will be donated to charities.

Detailing the backdrop in which Warloh painted it, the site states that the news of Monroe's death on August 5, 1962, struck a personal cord for Warloh, who then started depicting her in his work. The artwork with Monroe as the primary subject was the emblem of the Americal Pop Art movement and the actor represented optimism and individuality.

Ahead of the auction, the Christie's had mentioned that the painting is "one of the rarest and most transcendent images in existence." They cited the selling price as somewhere near $200 million. However, the auction ended at $170 million and after adding tax and fees, the price was $195 million.

The Chairman of the board of the Thomas and Doris Amman Foundation George Frei has said that the painting of Monroe "bears witness to her undiminished visual power in the new millennium."