EBN-A rare Banksy painting sold for £4 million at EBN-heby’s auction house. The image was inspired by a work by the late Scottish artist Jack Vettriano.
The oil painting sold by the auction house in the British capital, titled “Crude Oil (Veteranno)”; sometimes called “Toxic Beach”, was first shown in Banksy’s major exhibition in 2005.
Rare painting by street artist Banksy sells for record sum in London.
The Sotheby’s auction coincided with the announcement of the death of the artist Jacques Vettriano, who was an inspiration to Banksy. The body of the 73-year-old artist was found in his apartment in the city of Nice in the south of France. This self-made artist was very popular among the public, but was shunned by the artistic community.
Although Banksy is mainly known for the stencils he spreads on the streets of the world, which cause a huge stir every time, his artistic output also includes paintings and sculptures, but these works have remained hidden by the aura of his street art works, some of which have gained wide fame.
Businesses that have generated tens of millions of dollars
The works of the famous street artist Banksy, whose true identity remains a mystery, have generated tens of millions of dollars, making him one of the most famous British artists in the world.
Banksy’s work is not only visually appealing, but often carries powerful and provocative ideas, addressing issues such as war, capitalism, social control and human rights.
A painting showing Banksy’s mockery
The recently sold Crude Oil is a parody of Jack Vettriano’s The Singing Butler, a painting of a couple dancing on a beach that is very popular in the UK .
But Banksy’s version isn’t quite as romantic, with a sinking ship in the background disrupting the couple’s dance.
The housemaid holding an umbrella was replaced by two men in protective suits loading a barrel of toxic contents.
Image addressing key issues of the 21st century
Sotheby’s auction house said in a statement before the auction that street artist Banksy used his trademark sense of humor and sarcasm to produce an image that addresses major issues of the 21st century, such as the environment, pollution, and capitalism.
A portion of the auction proceeds will be donated to two medical charities in Los Angeles and the California Fire Foundation, following the recent wildfires that swept through the region.
Previous records for street artist Banksy
Although Banksy’s rare copy sold for more than its original estimate of £3 million, it was still well below his previous records as a graffiti artist.
In October 2021, his painting “Girl with Balloon,” which partially self-shredded during an auction and was renamed “Love in the Trash Can,” sold for £18.6 million ($24.9 million).
It far surpassed the previous record for a Banksy work, a painting titled “Game Changer” honoring health workers that sold in March of the same year for £16.75 million ($23 million), with the proceeds going to the NHS
