Latest news with #Sotherby's
Dubai Eye
10-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Dubai Eye
Banksy artwork sells for AED 20 million at auction
Banksy's re-imagining of the 1992 painting "The Singing Butler" by Scottish artist Jack Vettriano, whose death was announced last week, has sold at auction for $5.4 million (AED 20 million). The artwork was sold to a private collector at Sotherby's in London, just days after Vettriano was found dead aged 73 in France. The painting depicts Vettriano's butler serenading a dancing couple on a beach, with Banksy' addition of a sinking oil liner and two figures in hazmat suits moving a barrel of toxic waste in the background. The painting, bought by the co-founder of pop-punk band blink-182 Mark Hoppus and his wife Skye in 2011, was offered at Sotheby's London "Modern & Contemporary Evening Auction", with an estimate of $3.81 million - $6.35 million (AED 14 million - AED 23 million). "It was first exhibited in (Banksy's) landmark exhibition in Notting Hill in 2005, which really propelled him into the public sphere," Mackie Hayden-Cook, specialist, contemporary art at Sotheby's, told Reuters. Speaking before news of Vettriano's death, she linked Banksy's decision to re-imagine his work to the parallels between the two artists at the time. "Like Banksy, you have a really, really popular artist that is loved by the masses and appreciated by many. But for whatever reason, he was snubbed by the art world," Hayden-Cook said. Hoppus said part of the sale proceeds would go to medical charities and the California Fire Foundation, following the Los Angeles wildfires. He and his wife also intend to buy new art. 'Coming up in punk rock, it was always the ethos that if your band got any success, you brought your friends up with you," he told Reuters on Sunday. "So with this art sale, I hope to take some of the money and put it back into the art community with up-and-coming artists that we're inspired by and just continue that. I want to be a punk rock Medici.'
ARN News Center
10-03-2025
- Entertainment
- ARN News Center
Banksy artwork sells for AED 20 million at auction
Banksy's re-imagining of the 1992 painting "The Singing Butler" by Scottish artist Jack Vettriano, whose death was announced last week, has sold at auction for $5.4 million (AED 20 million). The artwork was sold to a private collector at Sotherby's in London, just days after Vettriano was found dead aged 73 in France. The painting depicts Vettriano's butler serenading a dancing couple on a beach, with Banksy' addition of a sinking oil liner and two figures in hazmat suits moving a barrel of toxic waste in the background. The painting, bought by the co-founder of pop-punk band blink-182 Mark Hoppus and his wife Skye in 2011, was offered at Sotheby's London "Modern & Contemporary Evening Auction", with an estimate of $3.81 million - $6.35 million (AED 14 million - AED 23 million). "It was first exhibited in (Banksy's) landmark exhibition in Notting Hill in 2005, which really propelled him into the public sphere," Mackie Hayden-Cook, specialist, contemporary art at Sotheby's, told Reuters. Speaking before news of Vettriano's death, she linked Banksy's decision to re-imagine his work to the parallels between the two artists at the time. "Like Banksy, you have a really, really popular artist that is loved by the masses and appreciated by many. But for whatever reason, he was snubbed by the art world," Hayden-Cook said. Hoppus said part of the sale proceeds would go to medical charities and the California Fire Foundation, following the Los Angeles wildfires. He and his wife also intend to buy new art. 'Coming up in punk rock, it was always the ethos that if your band got any success, you brought your friends up with you," he told Reuters on Sunday. "So with this art sale, I hope to take some of the money and put it back into the art community with up-and-coming artists that we're inspired by and just continue that. I want to be a punk rock Medici.'
Yahoo
15-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Mary Queen of Scots' communion cup 'returns home'
A communion cup belonging to Mary Queen of Scots has "returned home". The cup, known as the Luck of Workington, had been donated by the royal to the Curwen family of Workington in Cumbria in 1568 as a thank you for their hospitality while she was fleeing prosecution. Susan Thornely donated the cup to the town's Helena Thompson museum in 2012 when she was head of the Curwen family, but it was taken away as part of her estate when she died three years ago. Last week the cup went back on display "where it belongs", museum manager Tricia Poole said. Mary Queen of Scots was believed to have been sailing to France after losing the battle of Langside when her ship was blown off course and ended up in Siddick, between Workington and Maryport. The family of Henry Curwen, the lord of the manor, gave her hospitality at Workington Hall on 16 May 1568. Museum director and volunteer Ellie Todhunter said: "When she came to leave she took the communion cup, filled it with wine and presented it to Henry Curwen saying 'here's luck to the Curwens of Workington Hall', and that was thanks for giving her refuge." Tony Wareing, also a director and volunteer at the museum, said the royal would not have been carrying much with her but, as a "staunch Catholic", she made sure she had the Scottish agate cup. "It was quite thing for her to give up her communion cup to the Curwens," he said. He added people were concerned when the Luck left the town. "There is folklore that says that as long as the Luck remains in Workington that Workington will be prosperous, and if it ever leaves then we could go downhill." When it left the museum, Mrs Poole was told that because of the winding up of Mrs Thornely's estate and inheritance tax implications the cup had to be taken by fine art brokers Sotherby's to be valued and put for sale. "It shouldn't have gone - I said to [Sotherby's] nobody else will want it, because it's for us, it needs to stay in Workington," Mrs Poole said. The item was valued between £80,000 and £120,000 and the Helena Thompson museum was offered it for £150,000, including fees, when it failed to sell, but they did not have the money. Mrs Thornely's sons had expressed their desire for it to be returned to the museum and Mrs Poole said an agreement was found between HMRC and the Arts Council for it to be go back to Workington. It was put back on display last week and a group visiting for a talk and tour of Workington Hall were among the first people to see it. "They thought it was amazing, but even people that had seen it before looked at it and said it looks even more spectacular." Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Send your story ideas here. Communion cup returns to Cumbria Mary Queen of Scots haven 'to be repaired' Helena Thompson Museum
