Hockney's Art Under A Grand

Next Monday, Bonhams is holding the first sale ever devoted entirely to the work of David Hockney. Although Hockney's paintings can make millions, and there is one large 1998 pastel in the sale valued at £150,000 to £200,000, there are dozens of prints, posters and photographs estimated to sell for under £1,000. Perhaps the most unusual items are two costumes which Hockney designed for a performance of Maurice Ravel's L'Enfant et le Sortilèges, a one-act opera based on Colette's 1916 story. The costumes in the Bonhams sale were designed for children who played the parts of shepherds in the production. Consisting of a smock and a pair of trousers, made in thick wool and dyed according to very specific instructions. In his notes kept by the Royal Opera House, Hockney states: "The costume is green and must match exactly the wallpaper colour of the set." Estimated to fetch between £500 to £700 each, they are a test case for Bonhams which has never sold a Hockney costume before. For the full story - click the title Irish Art