LONDON.- Works by Pop Art Pioneer Andy Warhol (1928-1987) are amongst the highlights leading one of Bonhams’ Prints & Multiples sale this December. The first sale will take place in Knightsbridge on 7 December followed by the New Bond Street Prints & Multiples sale on 13 December, in which Madonna & Self-Portrait with Skeleton's Arm (After Munch), a unique screenprint in colours by Warhol, is one of the standout works. It has an estimate of £80,000-120,000. Leading the sale will be another work by Warhol, Superman, a unique preparatory proof, estimated at £150,000-200,000.

Warhol was commissioned to create a series of works after Munch's woodcuts by Galleri Bellman in 1982, after the gallery had hosted an exhibition of Munch's original prints – which Warhol visited on multiple occasions.

In Madonna & Self-Portrait with Skeleton's Arm (After Munch), Warhol remains true to the Norwegian’s original work by combining two of Munch’s lithographs. This rare print – it is uncertain exactly how many exist – is one of Warhol’s most complex and powerful appropriations and demonstrates his deep fascination with the artist.

Also, in the New Bond Street sale is another of Andy Warhol’s rare works, a unique preparatory proof of Superman. This unique screenprint is very different from the well-known finished images from the standard edition as it was created during the experimentation phase beforehand. Much bigger in size than the edition, Andy Warhol’s involvement with its creation and his preparatory techniques are brought to the fore in this extraordinary work.

Carolin von Massenbach, Bonhams Head of Prints & Multiples, commented: “For Andy Warhol, an artist obsessed with celebrity icons and image production, it is no surprise that he should turn to the iconic Superman or to the famous Norwegian painter, Edvard Munch for inspiration. Despite living nearly 100 years apart, both artists were innovators, in-turn creating some of the most enduring and controversial images of the 20th century. These works exemplify Warhol’s practice and talent of translating idols from art history and media into his own oeuvre.

"From Rembrandt to Picasso, Riley to Richter and Warhol to Banksy, there is truly something for everyone in our two upcoming Prints and Multiples sales in December – spanning every era, medium, and price point. It is the perfect opportunity for the budding collector to start or expand their art collection.”

Another star lot being offered is an impression from one of David Hockney’s most celebrated and sought-after Ipad series, The Arrival of Spring in Woldgate, East Yorkshire in 2011 (twenty eleven). By executing the works in situ and documenting the changing seasons, the medium allowed him to work quickly to capture the subtle changes in light and colour.

Other highlights of the New Bond Street sale include:




• David Hockney (born 1937), The Arrival of Spring in Woldgate, East Yorkshire in 2011 (twenty eleven) - 6 May. iPad drawing in colours, 2011, on wove paper, signed, dated and numbered 9/25 in pencil, the full sheet, framed. Sheet 1400 x 1050mm. (55 x 41 1/2in.). Estimate: £150,000-200,000.

• Gerhard Richter (born 1932), Kerze II (Butin 66). Offset lithograph with black oil paint, 1989, on paper mounted to white plastic (as issued), signed, dated and numbered 32/50 in pencil, published by Achenbach Art edition, Düsseldorf, the full sheet, framed, Sheet 883 x 889mm. (35 x 35in.). Estimate: £60,000-80,000.

• Banksy (born 1974), Barcode Screenprint, 2003, on wove paper, signed and dated in black ink and numbered 30/150 in pencil. Sheet 496 x 695mm. (19 1/2 x 27 3/8in.) Estimate: 60,000 - 80,000.

• Chris Levine (born 1972), Lightness of Being (Golden). Screenprint in colours, 2014, on museum board, signed with the artist's initials and dated in pencil, with another screenprint on the reverse, an artist's proof aside from the edition of eight, the full sheet, framed. Image 1085 x 845mm. (42 3/4 x 33 1/4in.); Sheet 1360 x 1090mm. (53 5/8 x 42 7/8in.). Estimate: £50,000-70,000.

Highlights from the Knightsbridge sale include:

• Banksy (born 1974), Girl With Balloon. Screenprint in black and red, 2004, on wove, numbered 79/600 in pencil. Full sheet, 655 x 497mm (25 3/4 x 19 1/2)(SH). Estimate: £70,000 - 100,000.

• Chris Levine (born 1972), Lightness of Being (Crystal Edition). Screenprint in colours with Swarovski crystals, 2018, signed and numbered 83/100 in pencil, 380 x 300mm (15 x 11 3/4in). Estimate: £7,000 - 10,000.

• Banksy (born 1974), Happy Chopper. Screenprint in colours, 2003, on wove, numbered 474/750 in pencil, published by Pictures on Walls, London, the full sheet, 697 x 498mm (27 1/2 x 19 5/8in), (unframed). Estimate: £20,000 - 30,000.

• Damien Hirst (born 1965), We Are Nothing But Dead Old People, from 'The Currency'. Unique enamel paint, 2016, on handmade wove, signed, titled, dated and numbered '7271' in pencil verso, from the total original edition of 10,000 unique variants and is one of 5149 remaining from the physical edition (there is also an edition of 4851 NFTs remaining), 216 x 298mm (8 1/2 x 11 3/4in), (unframed). Estimate: £8,000 - 12,000.