- 532
Damien Hirst
Estimate
200,000 - 300,000 USD
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Description
- Damien Hirst
- Typhon
- entomological specimens and hammerite paint on canvas
- Framed: 28 1/2 by 28 1/2 by 4 3/4 in. 72.4 by 72.4 by 12.1 cm.
- Executed in 2012.
Provenance
White Cube, London
Acquired by the present owner from the above
Acquired by the present owner from the above
Condition
This work is in excellent condition overall. There are no apparent condition issues with this work. Framed under Plexiglas in the artist's chosen frame.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.
Catalogue Note
Damien Hirst's Entomology Paintings were begun in 2009. In this remarkable series, each work is composed of hundreds of varieties of insect, butterfly and beetle species into Hammerite gloss paint, each piece placed and organized in intricate geometric patterns reminiscent of kaleidoscopes and stained-glass windows. The Entomology Paintings are highly similar in composition to Hirst’s iconic series of butterfly wing paintings; originally inspired by Victorian tea trays, these works allude to Hirst’s interest in the 19th century fascination with Natural History.
Just like the butterflies which have become emblematic of the artist's oeuvre, insects appeal to Damien Hirst partly because they retain the appearance of life in death. The artist is drawn to the insects because they embody the fragility of life, retaining an iridescent beauty even in death. The titles of the Entomology Paintings are named after phases and characters in Dante Alighieri's tortuous vision of the afterlife, the Divine Comedy. As Hirst explains, these paintings are “beautiful and horrific at the same time, you can’t help but be drawn into it, seduced by it, but you want to run away from it."