| A complete mural from the famous Soho drinking | | | | didn't go for it, especially as the price wasn't |
| den the Colony Room by Michael Andrews sold | | | | stratospheric; the mural is easily worth between |
| for £38,400 at Lyon & Turnbull's | | | | £150,000 - £200,000. I represent |
| Modern and Contemporary Art and Design sale in | | | | the Michael Andrews estate so I'm glad I was able |
| London on September 27th 2008. | | | | to save the work, and hopefully this will give |
| The famous Soho Colony Room was frequented | | | | British museums a second opportunity to |
| by artists such as Francis Bacon, Lucian Freud and | | | | purchase this iconic piece of artworld history." |
| Damien Hirst. | | | | Andrews painted it over a weekend in lieu of an |
| Michael Andrews' 15-foot-long household | | | | unpaid bar bill, from an image in a book on |
| paint-on-Hessian mural of picnickers decorated the | | | | Bonnard which he re-interpreted. The Colony |
| walls of the drinking club since the 1950s. | | | | Room was founded in 1948 by Muriel Belcher, |
| The mural was bought James Hyman of the | | | | who ran the club until her death in 1979. After 60 |
| James Hyman Gallery, London, who represents | | | | years in the same Soho building, the lease on the |
| the estate of the late Michael Andrews. | | | | site has expired and the bar is due to close at the |
| James Hyman said: "I think it was important to | | | | end of December, 2008. |
| purchase the piece from an historical point of | | | | Since the Club was founded in 1948 the Colony |
| view. The Colony Room is a part of London's | | | | Room has been an institution in London's art |
| cultural history and the mural was the centrepiece. | | | | scene. This tiny first floor club has played host to |
| At this stage I am not sure what will happen to it, | | | | some of the greatest artists of the post war |
| I am just pleased to have secured it for future | | | | period most notably Francis Bacon and Lucien |
| generations to enjoy. Really it should be in a | | | | Freud. In more recent years Damien Hirst, Tracey |
| museum, in my opinion the piece is that important. | | | | Emin and Kate Moss have all been regular |
| I'm surprised the Tate or Museum of London | | | | habitues. |