Andy Warhol, Venus from Details of Renaissance Paintings, 1984

Artist: Andy Warhol (1928 - 1987)
Title:Venus from Details of Renaissance Paintings, 1984
Reference:FS IIA. 319
Series:Details from Renaissance Paintings, 1984
Medium:Hand Signed original Color Screnprint
Image Size:37 in x 25 in (95 cm x 63.5 cm)
Sheet Size:44 in x 32 in (111.8 cm x 81.3 cm)
Framed Size:approx. 54 in x 42 in (137.2 cm x 106.7 cm)
Edition:Numbered from the edition of 70; aside from the edition of 18 Artisit's Proofs, 5 Printer's Proofs, 5 Hors Commerce; Printed by Rupert Jasen Smith, New York; Published by Editions Schellmann & Kluser, Germany.
Signature:This work is hand-signed by Andy Warhol (Pennsylvania, 1928 - New York, 1987) in pencil in the lower left.
Condition:This work is in excellent condition
ID #W-5530

Historical Description

Warhol is renowned for his iconic portraits of celebrities and cultural icons. In 1984, he turned his attention to classical art and produced the series Details of Renaissance Paintings, showcasing cropped images of Old Master paintings.

In his interpretation Boticelli’s Venus, Warhol combines his signature pop style with one of the most recognizable images of classical art. From the complete portfolio of four, each image of Venus subverts art historical tradition and gains an iconic status in modern art.

Venus, the Roman goddess of love is transformed through vibrant colors, bestowing upon her a celebrity status. Even though Boticelli’s original painting included an elaborate background to the goddess, Warhol chooses instead to focus on her face and flowing hair. Each image accentuates her hair color against a sharp, contrasting background in order to magnify her divinity and beauty.  Particularly in this image, her iconic blonde hair is placed against a light blue background. The blue undeniably brings out the the wonderful texture of her flowing hair. Warhol redefines a classical art piece as a modern American icon.

Created in 1984, this screenprint on Arches Aquarelle (Cold Pressed) paper is hand-signed by Andy Warhol (Pennsylvania, 1928 - New York, 1987) in pencil in the lower left and numbered from the edition of 70; aside from the edition of 18 Artisit's Proofs, 5 Printer's Proofs, 5 Hors Commerce; Printed by Rupert Jasen Smith, New York; Published by Editions Schellmann & Kluser, Germany.

Catalogue Raisonné & COA:
This work is fully documented and referenced in the below catalogue raisonnés and texts (copies will be enclosed as added documentation with the invoices that will accompany the sale of the work).

1. Feldman, Frayda and Jörg Schellmann. Andy Warhol Prints, A Catalogue Raisonné, 1989. Listed and illustrated as catalogue raisonné no. IIA.319.

2. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany this work

About the Framing:
This work is framed to museum-grade, conservation standards, presented in a complimentary moulding and finished with silk-wrapped mats and optical grade Plexiglas.