Month: January 2022

Rare portrait of Princess Diana sells for $201,600

A portrait of the late Princess Diana has sold for more than 10 times its expected sale price, Sotheby’s auction house announced. The oil piece, titled “Diana, Princess of Wales,” was painted in 1994 by the late American artist Nelson Shanks. Sotheby’s said it was expected to fetch up to $20,000 but it sold for $201,600. 

The rare painting is a head study of Diana that was created during the start of her full-length portrait. Artists sometimes use head studies to perfect the emotions and perspectives of their subject’s face. 

While the picture shows the princess with the same “downcast eyes” and a “thoughtful expression” included in her full length-portrait, her green halter dress was later changed to a white blouse for the final, larger project, according to Sotheby’s.  via cbs.com