Acquired directly from the artist by the previous owner
Thence by descent to the present owner

Ferrara, Palazzo dei Diamanti, Andy Warhol: Ladies and Gentlemen, 1975, n.p, illustrated in colour
Venice, Abbazia di San Gregorio, Andy Warhol in Venice,1988, pp. 37 & 43, illustrated in colour

 

Colours: The colours in the catalogue illustration are fairly accurate, although the overall tonality is warmer in the original with the face tending more to chocolate, the cherry more to London bus red and the background more to pale peach. Condition: This work is in very good condition. There is wear and associated discolouration to all four corners of the composition. There are faint stretcher marks parallel to all four edges, approximately 1cm in from the turnover edges, with associated stable craquelures to the centre of the top edge, the centre of the left edge and the top section of the right edge. There is further stable craquelure approximately 5cm bellow the centre of the top edge and scattered fine tension cracks in places along the extreme turnover edges. There are faint handling marks to the central sections of the top and right edges. No restoration is apparent when examined under ultraviolet light.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Models for the Ladies and Gentlemen paintings were brought to Warhol's studio from the Gilded Grape. a bar on Eighth Avenue and 45th Street. Seeking to photograph transvestites with a less feminine, put-together look than his film stars such as Candy Darling "Warhol realised that this would probably be the perfect place to search for less polished drag queens... [He] sent Colacello and other assistants to the Gilded Grape to recruit models for his camera. The men who responded were not told the artist's name and were paid by the half-hour ($50) to pose for Warhol's Polaroid camera. Painted portraits as well as screen prints resulted from sittings by more than ten drag queens". (Gordon Baldwin and Judith Keller, Nadar/Warhol: Paris/New York, Los Angeles, 1999, p. 190).