David Hockney pyramid painting auctions for $5.5m

David Hockney's landmark Egyptian painting, Great Pyramid at Giza with Broken Head from Thebes (1963), auctioned at Sotheby's London last night (February 13) for an impressive £3.51m ($5.5m) - a 0.4% increase on its $3.5m high estimate.

David Hockney pyramid painting auction
Hockney is known for his collage like compositions and bold use of colour

The canvas, which sold as part of Christie's post war and contemporary art evening sale, is considered something of a forgotten treasure, having been commissioned by the Sunday Times newspaper but never published - its scheduled publication was eclipsed by the assassination of JFK.

The only canvas Hockney produced during his Egyptain trip features a collage-like composition that includes a painterly pyramid, a palm tree and an object resembling a domestic tap.

Works by the artist are considered strong investments; with Hockney's iconic Swimming Pool (1937) having brought $2.5m at Sotheby's in June 2012. Prices are predicted to rise further when the artist is no longer with us, capping the market for his work. For more information on the investment potential of the market, visit Paul Fraser Collectibles free guide to investing in art and photography.

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