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Robert Mapplethorpe

Robert Mapplethorpe

American · 1946–1989 · Painter, Sculptor

Robert Michael Mapplethorpe was an American photographer and artist. Best known for his black-and-white photographs, his work encompassed celebrity portraits, self-portraits,… (Wikipedia)

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368lots offered2004–2026years recorded88%sold (321)$15.8kSign up free to seemedian price

1 work by Robert Mapplethorpe with an auction history (offered more than once) →

9 works by Robert Mapplethorpe coming up at auction · bid with the house ↓

Record prices

  1. Robert Mapplethorpe, Double Tiger Lily, 1977, Unique work, comprising two gelatin silver prints in artist's original silk overmats and frameDouble Tiger LilyPhillips · £297,000≈ $400,683≈ €340,109Sign up to see
  2. Robert Mapplethorpe, Man in Polyester Suit, 1980, Gelatin silver print, printed 1980Man in Polyester SuitPhillips · $355,600≈ £284,890≈ €326,209Sign up to see
  3. Robert Mapplethorpe, Tulips, 1977, Unique composition of two gelatin silver prints with gray and black silk overmats in artist's original frameTulipsPhillips · $298,000≈ £239,569≈ €279,786Sign up to see

Robert Mapplethorpe’s highest prices recorded at auction, ranked in US dollars at each sale-date exchange rate and shown in the currency of the sale (with the buyer’s premium where the house publishes it).

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  1. Robert Mapplethorpe, Ohne Titel, Farbserigraphie und Offsetlithographie auf schwerem gelblichen Velin
    Ohne Titel
    Screenprint
    50,4 x 50,5 cm
    Lempertz · · Lot 300
    €714≈ $871≈ £474Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. €1,000–View at Lempertz ↗
  2. Robert Mapplethorpe, Portrait of Andy Warhol, 1983-85, Photogravure on Paper
    Portrait of Andy Warhol, 1983-85
    Etching · Paper
    H 10.5" W 10.5"
    DuMouchelles · · Lot 1036
    Unsold / did not meet reserveEst. $600–800View at DuMouchelles ↗
  3. Robert Mapplethorpe, Tarantula, 1988, Gelatin silver print Cm
    Tarantula, 1988
    Photograph
    Bertolami Fine Art · · Lot 95
    Unsold / did not meet reserveEst. €10,000–20,000View at Bertolami Fine Art ↗
  4. Robert Mapplethorpe, Bird of Paradise, 1981, gelatin silver print
    Bird of Paradise, 1981
    Photograph
    13⅞ h x 14 w in (35 x 36 cm)
    Los Angeles Modern Auctions (LAMA) · · Lot 107
    Unsold / did not meet reserveEst. $15,000–View at Los Angeles Modern Auctions (LAMA) ↗
  5. Robert Mapplethorpe, Calla Lily, 1985, Gelatin silver print, mounted
    Calla Lily, 1985
    Photograph · ed. 4/10
    38.5 x 38.5 cm (15 1/8 x 15 1/8 in.)
    Phillips · · Lot 16
    Unsold / did not meet reserveEst. £35,000–55,000View at Phillips ↗
  6. Robert Mapplethorpe, Patti Smith, 1987, Gelatin silver print, printed 1987
    Patti Smith, 1987
    Photograph · ed. 1/10
    19 1/4 x 19 1/4 in. (48.9 x 48.9 cm)
    Phillips · · Lot 321
    Unsold / did not meet reserveEst. $15,000–25,000View at Phillips ↗
  7. Robert Mapplethorpe, Lisa Marie / Breasts, 1987, Gelatin silver print, mounted
    Lisa Marie / Breasts, 1987
    Photograph · ed. 2/10
    48.5 x 48.5 cm (19 1/8 x 19 1/8 in.)
    Phillips · · Lot 132
    Unsold / did not meet reserveEst. £20,000–30,000View at Phillips ↗
  8. Robert Mapplethorpe, Rose, 1987, Gelatin silver print, mounted, printed 2016
    Rose, 1987
    Photograph
    48.5 x 48.5 cm (19 1/8 x 19 1/8 in.)
    Phillips · · Lot 6
    Unsold / did not meet reserveEst. £10,000–15,000View at Phillips ↗
  9. Robert Mapplethorpe, Dennis Morgan, 1980, Gelatin silver print printed in 2011 by Michael Ward Stout, Executor of the Estate of Robert Mapplethorpe; signed
    Dennis Morgan, 1980
    Photograph · ed. 2/10
    14 x 14 in. (35.5 x 35.5 cm.)
    Bonhams · · Lot 23
    Unsold / did not meet reserveEst. $8,000–12,000View at Bonhams ↗
  10. Robert Mapplethorpe, Larry, 1979, Stampa alla gelatina ai sali d'argento
    Larry, 1979
    Photograph
    45x35 cm
    Farsettiarte · · Lot 147
    Unsold / did not meet reserveEst. €3,000–5,000View at Farsettiarte ↗
Also offered, result not published (4)

Lots by Robert Mapplethorpe that were offered at auction where the house did not publish whether they sold. Not counted in any statistics.

Robert Mapplethorpe works on paper (3)Robert Mapplethorpe prints (27)Robert Mapplethorpe etchings (21)Robert Mapplethorpe lithographs (3)Robert Mapplethorpe photographs (327)

Robert Mapplethorpe signature

287 catalogued lots by Robert Mapplethorpe record a signature line. The most common placement is in the margin (31% of lots that state a placement). Most often: signed.

Placement

  • in the margin11
  • on the reverse10
  • lower right9
  • lower left6

Form

  • signed254
  • signed and dated30
  • stamped signature1
  • initialled1
  • signed in pencil1
  • Signed ‘Robert Mapplethorpe’ by the artist, titled, numbered '3/10' and dated in another hand and copyright credit reproduction limitation stamp on the reverse — Orchid, Phillips, Jun 24, 2025
  • Signed and dated "1981 1981 2017 Michael Ward Stout" by Michael Ward Stout, Executor, and stamped with the artist's estate stamp on the reverse — Snakeman, Phillips, Dec 2, 2024
  • Signed, numbered and dated '3/15 Robert Mapplethorpe '80' in the margin; signed and dated '1980 Robert Mapplethorpe' in the copyright credit reproduction limita — Self Portrait, Phillips, Apr 16, 2026

Robert Mapplethorpe signature: all forms and examples →

About Robert Mapplethorpe

Robert Michael Mapplethorpe was an American photographer and artist. Best known for his black-and-white photographs, his work encompassed celebrity portraits, self-portraits, erotic photographs, and still lifes of flowers.

From Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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