Beatles painting Images Of A Woman sells at auction for $1.74 million

A painting by The Beatles titled ‘Images Of A Woman’ has sold at auction for $1.74 million.

The painting was sold at Christie’s in New York on 1 February 2024, for far more than the estimated $400,000–600,000.

‘Images Of A Woman’ is the only known painting by all four members of The Beatles. The oil and watercolour artwork was created by The Beatles in June and July 1966, while on tour in Tokyo. Unable to leave their suite at the Hilton hotel for three nights due to security reasons, they collaborated on the painting.

Each Beatle painted parts of the 30″x40″ paper, working by the light of a lamp in the centre. The lamp was removed when the painting was complete, and The Beatles signed the empty space next to their contributions.

The paper and paints were provided by the Japanese promoter, Tats Nagashima, who suggested that the completed painting be auctioned for charity. It was subsequently bought by a cinema manager and local fan club president Tetsusaburo Shimoyama.

In September 2012 it was put up for sale again through Philip Weiss Auctions in New York. The painting had a pre-auction estimate of $80,000 to $120,000, but sold for $155,250 including the buyer’s premium.

The 2024 auction took place at Christie’s at 20 Rockefeller Center, New York City. The buyer’s premium was $416,240, taking the total cost of ‘Images Of A Woman’ up to $2,160,240.