 Jeff Koons has used the classical 'House of the Venus Marina III’ for the depiction. The famous Pompeii fresco The Birth of Venus has been drawn over with a silver lining drawing of a ship, depicting a sailing boat and sun.
The 57 year old New Yorker is considered to be one of the world’s most important, though controversial artists from the US. He is also one of the most successful and most expensive contemporary artists. His work, Tulips was sold last month for $33,682,500, recording the highest price for a work of art created by a living artist. His Made in Heaven series made in 1989 was a set of huge canvasses, exhibited at the Tate Modern Gallery, graphically depicting his consummating marriage with the Hungarian born Italian porn-star Ilona Staller, also known as Cicciolina whom he divorced soon after the wedding.
The label is in continuation of a tradition set by the late Baron Philippe de Rothschild when he inaugurated the first "artist's label to celebrate first bottling of the wines exclusively from the Estate grapes in 1924. Rothschild starting using labels designed in original by well known artists since the end of the World War II in 1945. The artists are rewarded with cases of the Chateau wine of that vintage. Prince Charles had designed the label for Mouton 2004.Cocteau, Braque, Dali, César, Miró, Chagall, Picasso, Andy Warhol, Soulages, Francis Bacon and Balthus are some of the other artists who have designed the label for the Estate. Prince Charles contributed the 2004 label. Of course, the 2009 vintage was designed by the Mumbai-born British artist Anish Kapoor –a leading figure in the world of contemporary art.
Mouton Rothschild is one of the five First Growths, the fifth and the only addition to the famous 1855 Classification that rates the top Chateaux of Left bank of Bordeaux in five different growths. The Premier Cru Classé is made from grapes grown in the Estate with around 200 acres of vines in Pauillac, Médoc. Cabernet Sauvignon (83 %), Merlot (14 %) and Cabernet Franc (3 %) are the three varietals grown.
Mouton 2010 is currently the most expensive of the last ten vintages, according to the Liv-ex fine wine index. Released as En Primeur last year at €600 a bottle, it is currently selling at an average price of over €800, according to wine.searcher.com, though it can be available at around €700-Liv-ex lists it at slightly lower price than the release price. The Chateau claims it surpasses the highly coveted 2009 vintage in quality.
Mouton Rothschild is imported in India by Brindco, along with several other labels from the stable of the First Growth Chateau.
For our previous related article, visit Indian Artist Adorns Rothschild 2009 |