Madonna and Ritchie painting sells for €17k

AN OIL painting depicting Madonna in the nude with her ex-husband Guy Ritchie has sold for a record price, it was revealed yesterday.

The buyer of Peter Howson’s Madonna & Guy has asked to remain anonymous and for the price to be kept secret.

But Glasgow-based McTear’s Auctioneers confirmed the painting fetched more than the £15,000 (€17,400) reserve price and was believed to be an auction world record price for a Howson work of its size. The firm also disclosed that the painting will be leaving Scotland. At an auction in Glasgow last month, the portrait attracted some bids, but not enough to satisfy the seller, a private collector.

It had been expected to reach £22,000 at that auction.

Brian Clements, from McTear’s, said: “We were very confident we would find the right buyer for Madonna & Guy and we are delighted to have secured such an excellent price for the painting.

“Although we cannot divulge the name of the buyer, we can confirm that the painting will be leaving Scotland.

“The vendor is delighted with the sale and has already intimated that he will include further high-quality works by Peter Howson from his superb collection in our next Scottish Contemporary Art Auction on August 18.”

Madonna is joined in the work by film director Ritchie from whom she split last year. The painting shows the singer reclining and Ritchie’s hand on her thigh.

Howson is better known for his portrayals of Glasgow down-and-outs and was in the early 1990s appointed the official war artist for the Bosnia conflict.