Andy Warhol work not seen in public for 15 years could fetch $80m at auction - The Guardian

Six months aft a vivid representation of Marilyn Monroe smashed records erstwhile it sold for $195m, a alternatively much acheronian and brutal enactment by the cult popular creator Andy Warhol whitethorn besides beryllium astir to fetch a ample sum.

White Disaster (White Car Crash 19 Times) – repeated graphic achromatic and achromatic images crossed a immense canvas measuring 12ft gangly and 6ft wide – is expected to merchantability for astatine slightest $80m successful New York adjacent month.

It is portion of Warhol’s 1960s Death and Disaster bid that reflected the artist’s preoccupation with mortality. The past ample Death and Disaster coating sold astatine auction, Silver Car Crash (Double Disaster), fetched $105m successful 2013.

Sotheby’s, which volition auction the portion connected behalf of a backstage proprietor connected 16 November, described it arsenic a “monumental masterpiece”. It has not been connected nationalist presumption for much than 15 years.

Referring to Warhol’s devout Catholicism, Sotheby’s said: “There is nary uncertainty that the carnal magnitude of the sheet – the largest of each Warhol’s single-panel car clang works – has the powerfulness to invoke a consciousness of awe and reverence akin to that of a spiritual altarpiece. In fact, the spiritual overtones of the enactment widen beyond its specified scale.”

It quoted the creation historiographer John Richardson arsenic saying: “The full repetition of Andy’s imagery stems from the information that helium was Catholic. He went to church, helium went to confession, helium had to bash 10 Hail Marys, 20 Ave Marias, and each this is reflected successful the mode his imagery is repeated again and again and again.”

Warhol began silkscreening images of car accidents, level crashes and different catastrophes successful the aboriginal 1960s, utilizing photographs from newspapers and constabulary archives arsenic root material.

“When you spot a gruesome representation implicit and implicit again, it truly doesn’t person immoderate effect,” helium told an interviewer successful 1963.

Warhol was raised by his devout Catholic mother, Julia, with whom helium prayed regular passim the 2 decades successful which they shared a New York home. He went to religion regularly, met the pope, and financed his nephew’s studies to go a priest.