Andy Warhol (1928-1987, American)

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Summer Modern & Contemporary Art

By John Moran Auctioneers

Aug 30, 2022

Set Reminder 2022-08-30 15:00:00 2022-08-30 15:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Summer Modern & Contemporary Art https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/john-moran/summer-modern-contemporary-art-10100
John Moran Auctioneers is pleased to announce its annual Summer Modern & Contemporary fine art auction Highlights of the sale include a unique Andy Warhol screenprint & other artists, such as Ernie Barnes Milton Avery, Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali, Phillip Pearlstein, Hassel Smith, & Fernand Leger John Moran Auctioneers info@johnmoran.com

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• Lot Description
  John Wayne from the "Cowboys and Indians" portfolio, 1986
  Screenprint in colors on Lenox Museum Board
  Edition HC 12/15
  Signed and annotated in pencil at the lower right: UNIQUE Andy Warhol; numbered in pencil, verso; Rupert Jasen Smith, prntr., with his blindstamp in the lower left corner; Gaultney, Klineman Art, Inc., New York, pub., with their copyright ink stamp, verso
  Image/Sheet: 36" H x 36" W
  
  Provenance: The artist
  Wayne Enterprises
  Melinda Wayne Munoz (John Waynes Daughter), gifted from the above
  
  
  Literature: Feldman & Schellmann II.377
  
  Notes: One of the 15 Hors Commerce impressions, annotated "UNIQUE." The total edition was 250 impressions plus 50 Artist's Proofs, 15 Printer's Proofs, and 10 impressions numbered in Roman numerals.
  
  Out of all the portraits ever produced by the artist Andy Warhol, his depiction of Hollywood celebrities is among the most memorable. "John Wayne," was produced by the artist about a year before his death, was originally part of a ten-print portfolio titled "Cowboys and Indians." This suite of screenprints also included portraits of other individuals - Teddy Roosevelt, Annie Oakley, George Custer, and Geronimo - who were key figures in the mythology surrounding the American West.
  
  In Warhol's portrait, Wayne is shown in three quarters view wearing his trademark cowboy hat while brandishing a pistol. This unique version of Andy Warhol's "John Wayne" comes from the estate of John Wayne's daughter, Melinda Wayne Munoz. Previously owned by the Estate of John Wayne, this print was acquired from the artist under an interesting set of circumstances that date back to the 1980s.
  
  Upon his death in 1979, the rights to use John Wayne's name and reproduce his likeness were transferred to a partnership managed by the family, with a royalty paid to his estate and profits donated to charity. Warhol, who used a press shot for Wayne's 1962 film "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" as the basis for his screenprint, never sought formal approval to use the image before releasing his "Cowboys and Indians" portfolio starting in 1986.
  
  The artist's son, Michael Wayne, first encountered the work by chance in a New York Gallery. After negotiations to license the image were unsuccessful, John Wayne's children filed a lawsuit against the artist to recover any profits obtained from his unauthorized use of the image. Warhol, seeking to limit his legal exposure in the matter, had all remaining examples of the print recalled by The Factory - including prints that had already been purchased. These works had the edition number removed, and Wayne's scarf or pistol were re-colored in one-off color variations before being inscribed "Unique" at the bottom right corner.
  
  Although Warhol was unsuccessful in re-editioning every example of his "John Wayne" print, his effort to transform each piece into a unique object meant that they could not legally be defined as a "product" which provided the artist with some protections against copyright infringement. However, in addition to re-numbering each "John Wayne" print from the "Cowboys and Indians" portfolio, the Warhol Foundation also gifted his other prints to the Wayne Family as part of a broader legal settlement.

  Condition

  Very good condition. The full sheet and the colors very fresh. A few, very unobtrusive, pinpoint-size specks of stray printer's ink. An approximately 0.125" H x 2.5" W line of the slightest surface abrasion, to the right of center along the extreme lower sheet edge, most likely from the inside seam of the Plexiglas box. The sheet is loose, never mounted or hinged.
  
  Framed under Plexiglas: 36.5" x 36.5" W x 3" D
• Shipping Info

  • Shipping: Buyers are responsible for arranging their own shipping estimates and deliveries. Moran’s in our discretion and as a courtesy to buyers, may arrange to have certain purchased lots packed, insured and forwarded by a third-party shipper at the request, expense and risk of the buyer. Moran’s assumes no responsibility for acts or omissions in such packing or shipping by other packers or carriers, even if recommended by Moran’s. Nor does Moran’s assume any responsibility for any damage to picture frames or to the glass therein. In circumstances where Moran’s arranges for such third-party services, Moran’s may apply an administration charge of 15% of that service fee.

• Buyer's Premium

  • Hammer Price	Premium (%)
    $0	30.00
    $500,001	23.00
    $1,000,001	20.00