A guest takes a photo during Christie's announcement that they will offer Andy Warhol's Shot Sage Blue Marilyn painting of Marilyn Monroe for auction. It has now become the most expensive 20th century artwork ever to be sold at auction.An iconic portrait of Marilyn Monroe by American pop art visionary Andy Warhol went under the hammer for $195 million on Monday at Christie's, becoming the most expensive 20th century artwork ever sold at public auction.
While falling just short of that threshold, it nevertheless beat the previous record for a 20th century work, Pablo Picasso'sThe all-time record for any work of art from any period sold at auction is held by Leonardo da Vinci'sWarhol's silk-screen work is part of a group of his portraits of Monroe that became known as the, apparently fired a gun at them.
Warhol began creating silkscreens of Monroe following the actress's death from a drug overdose aged just 36 in August 1962. Warhol said yes, thinking she meant she would photograph the works. Instead, Podber took out a gun and fired a bullet through the forehead of Monroe's image.