Sothebones, New York
An original sketch of Professor Brian Thrupiece travelling on the New York Metro, which adorned the front of The New Yorker in November 2004 has sold for $50,000 breaking the record both for a New Yorker cover and for a Thrupiece representation other than by the Professor himself.
The work by famed New York caricaturist Carrie Kattur-Wrist was formerly the property of the late Julia Macy-Bloomingdale, widow and fourth wife of Milton Macy-Bloomingdale III, who died in the company of her Secretary and Person Fitness Advisor - Tadzio - last year. Julia's daughter Helen-Maria Gucci-Prado-Sacks of Fifth Avenue put the picture up for sale to pay for the heavy legal expenses incurred as a result of her divorce from husband and New York socialite Giuliano di Palma Gucci-Prado-Sacks also of Fifth Avenue. She was reportedly delighted that the picture had sold for such a surprising sum: "I am delighted that the picture sold for such a surprising sum", she said. "it's really surprising and we are all - well - just surprised ... and delighted of course" "Thank God I got the picture when I divorced the bastard", she added with a strangely immobile rictus grin. (Mrs Gucci-Prado-Sacks has recently returned from Geneva where she allegedly "had work done".)
So why did the modest sketch attract such ferocious bidding? Sothebones expert Graeme Sothebones-Expert believes it's a combination of a unique subject and an unusually fine drawing. "I believe it's a combination of a unique subject and an unusually fine drawing" he told the Press after the auction. "New Yorker" originals normally fetch up to $20,000 depending on artist and subject, but there's always a premium with Thrupieces - the last one (which features the Professor exiting the New York subway) sold in London in 2010 for more than £12. I guess given the subway connection this makes them a pair and buyers - especially male buyers - can't resist a good pair."
The original sketch which provided the front cover of The New Yorker in November 2004 has sold at Sothebones, New York for $50,000
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