Andy WARHOL - Santa Apollonia - Signed screenprint

The Sacred Put to the Test of Reproducibility

Created in 1984, the "Santa Apollonia" series illustrates Andy Warhol's late fascination with the Italian Renaissance and the deconstruction of classical masterpieces. By appropriating a detail from a panel attributed to the workshop of Piero della Francesca, Warhol transforms the martyred saint into a universal pop icon. The nervous, simplified black line emphasizes the saint's profile, while the off-center color blocks create a visual vibration that detaches the work from its museum context. It is no longer about devotion, but a reflection on the persistence of the image and its mass-market diffusion.

Characteristics

• Artist: Andy Warhol (1928–1987).

• Title: Santa Apollonia.

• Technique: Color screenprint on Essex Offset Kid Finish paper.

• Date: 1984.

• Signature: Signed and numbered "100/250" in graphite by the artist.

• Markings: Bears the artist's stamp. Copyright stamp on the reverse.

• Printer: Rupert Jasen Smith, New York.

• Dimensions: 76.1 x 56 cm (29.96 x 22.05 in.).

• Catalogue Raisonné: Feldmann & Schellmann II.331.

Condition

• Colors: Pigments of great vibrancy, particularly the yellow and turquoise contrasts, which retain their full visual impact.

• Support: The work is fully laid down on a conservation board.

• Conservation: A slight crease in the upper left corner and a discreet mark in the central area (near the hand/belt). Overall good condition.

Studio Cinquante's Perspective

"Santa Apollonia" is a pivotal piece where Warhol moves away from Hollywood icons toward those of Art History. It is one of his most graphic works: the repetition of the line recalls his "blotted line" technique of the 1950s, but infused with the chromatic power of the 1980s. This work fits perfectly into a contemporary interior because it bridges the rigor of the Renaissance with the energy of Pop Art. Its strength lies in the saint's gaze—at once absent and omnipresent—captured by Warhol's genius.

Presentation Advice

Given the full mounting, we recommend a "box" type (shadow box) framing that respects the thickness of the support and highlights the sculptural quality of the sheet.