A portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by Andy Warhol sold for DKK 1,040,000 incl. buyer’s premium (approx. GBP 120,310 incl. buyer’s premium) at auction on Wednesday evening, at the Danish auction house Bruun Rasmussen. A portrait from the same series depicting Queen Margrethe II of Denmark also attracted strong bidding, achieving DKK 520,000 incl. buyer’s premium (approx. GBP 60,155 incl. buyer’s premium).
Both portraits are from Warhol’s celebrated “Reigning Queens” series from 1985. Tonight’s auction confirms his continued position among the most sought-after artists on the international market.
“We saw tremendous interest in these two portraits ahead of the auction,” says Niels Boe-Hauggaard, Head of Modern Art at Bruun Rasmussen. “Warhol’s distinctive portrayals of the queens continue to resonate with collectors around the world. The strong results demonstrate the enduring appeal of both the artist, and this celebrated series.”
Warhol created Reigning Queens in 1985 as a tribute to the four reigning female monarchs: Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, Queen Ntombi Twala of Swaziland and Queen Margrethe II of Denmark.
The portrait of Queen Elizabeth II is based on the official photograph taken by Peter Grugeon at Windsor Castle in 1975, later released to mark the Queen’s Silver Jubilee in 1977. Queen Margrethe II’s portrait is based on the official accession photograph taken by renowned Danish court photographer Rigmor Mydtskov in 1972.
Executed using Warhol’s signature silkscreen technique and vivid colour palette, the Reigning Queens series reflects the artist’s enduring fascination with fame, power, public image and the influence of mass media.