Andy Warhol Queen Elizabeth of the United Kingdom (F & S. II.336) For Sale

Andy Warhol once declared, "I want to be as famous as the Queen of England." This ambition led to the creation of his Reigning Queens portfolio, completed in 1985, just two years before his death. The Queen Elizabeth portfolio is part of this larger series, which includes sixteen prints in total. The series also features three other ruling queens: Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, Queen Beatrix of The Netherlands, and Queen Ntombi Twala of Swaziland. Each queen is represented in four prints, with the repetition reminiscent of a stamp. The ‘Royal Edition’ of Reigning Queens incorporates diamond dust in each print, adding an element of luxury and glamour, as the eye is drawn to the Queen’s diamond necklace.

Warhol employed his innovative screen-printing technique to replicate the portraits of each queen with exquisite detail. For this portfolio, he used Queen Elizabeth’s official Silver Jubilee portrait from 1977, taken by Peter Grugeon in 1975. This official portrait, often seen on currency, reflects Warhol’s fascination with mass production. The screenprint shows Queen Elizabeth smiling elegantly at the viewer, transformed into a Pop Art piece with a bold pink background, yellow dress, and blue sash. Blocks of colour scatter across the print, reminiscent of his earlier portfolios such as Ladies and Gentlemen. As her hair blends into the background, the viewer's focus is drawn to her bright, pale face, and her regal expression. This screenprint exudes female power, demanding recognition of female authority through its large-scale portrayal.

In this portfolio, Warhol portrayed the Queen of England not as a reigning monarch but as a Pop Art icon, similar to his depictions of celebrities like Mick Jagger and Marilyn Monroe. This approach revitalized traditional representations of the queen. Notably, these portraits of Queen Elizabeth are the only ones she owned that she had not posed for, following the Royal Collection's acquisition of the portfolio in 2021. The Reigning Queens portfolio was originally intended for exhibition in the United Kingdom, and Warhol expressed his displeasure about it being shown in America, stating, "I had my opening at Leo Castelli’s to go to, of the Reigning Queens portfolio that I just hate George Mulder for showing here in America. [It was] supposed to be only for Europe—nobody here cares about royalty and it’ll be another bad review."

Buy Andy Warhol Reigning Queens (F & S II.336)

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Sell Andy Warhol Reigning Queens (F & S II.336) by Andy Warhol

With a global network of active buyers, Andipa Editions are the place to sell your Reigning Queens (F & S II.336) print. Straight-forward and stress-free, we manage the process on your behalf and help to maximise your return. For a complimentary valuation of your Reigning Queens (F & S II.336) print, contact us via sales@andipa.com or on +44 (0) 20 7589 2371. Explore our collection of Andy Warhol original prints for sale.