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Torpedo...Los! is a 1963 painting by Roy Lichtenstein. When it last sold in 1989, The New York Times described the work as "a comic-strip image of sea warfare".[1]
| Torpedo...Los! | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Artist | Roy Lichtenstein |
| Year | 1963 |
| Type | Pop art |
On November 7, 1989 Torpedo...Los! sold at Christie's for $5.5 million (US$14 million in 2025 dollars[2]) to Zurich dealer Thomas Ammann, which was a record for a Lichtenstein.[1] The sale was described as the "highpoint" of a night in which Christie's achieved more than double the total sales prices of any other contemporary art auction.[3] The seller of the work was Beatrice C. Mayer, the widow of Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago founder and board member Robert B. Mayer as well as daughter of Sara Lee Corporation founder Nathan Cummings.[4][5] It was expected to sell for $3 to 4 million at the time.[4] Prior to the sale the work was part of the Robert B. Mayer Memorial Loan Program and was exhibited at colleges and museums.[4] In 1991, Mayer became one of the key benefactors of the new Museum of Contemporary Art Building.[6]
According to the Lichtenstein Foundation website, Torpedo...Los! was part of Lichtenstein's second solo exhibition at Leo Castelli Gallery from September 28 — October 24, 1963 that included Drowning Girl, Baseball Manager, and Whaam!.[7]
Notes
- ^ a b Reif, Rita (1989-11-09). "A de Kooning Work Sets A Record at $20.7 Million". The New York Times. Retrieved 2012-05-09.
- ^ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ^ Reif, Rita (1989-12-06). "Art Prices Are Still Astonishing, But Fever Seems to Be Cooling". The New York Times. Retrieved 2012-05-09.
- ^ a b c Reif, Rita (1989-11-03). "Auctions". The New York Times. Retrieved 2012-05-09.
- ^ Gillespie, Mary (1991-01-29). "Donors cite need for new art museum". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2009-08-23.
- ^ Gillespie, Mary (1991-01-29). "Trustees endow success of a new art museum". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2009-08-23.
- ^ "Chronology". Roy Lichtenstein Foundation. Retrieved 2012-05-09.