PROVENANCE
Private Collection, Sydney

This work is accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity from Pest Control

Queen Vic is one of Banksy's most controversial artworks. It was released in 2003 by Pictures on Walls, the artist's original United Kingdom print house as an edition of 50 signed prints and 500 unsigned prints.

In this work, the long serving British monarch is irreverently and rather startlingly depicted. Whilst Banksy retains and reproduces the familiar head and shoulders portrait of Queen Victoria in full regalia with crown and sceptre, the lower half of the work is a radical departure to another time and place.

Both characters are realised in Banksy's readily identifiable black and white stencil style against a red background. At the time this work was created, Banksy was well known for his criticism of the British Monarchy. Some believe that in more recent times he has made an informal peace with the Monarchy, and has not returned to the subject he mocked in his 20s.