Warhol painting of Elvis heads to auction in NY

[May 09, 2012]  NEW YORK (AP) -- An Andy Warhol portrait of Elvis Presley as a cowboy is being sold at a New York City auction.

Sotheby's says the "Double Elvis (Ferus Type)" will be sold Wednesday night during a contemporary art sale.

The silver silkscreen painting shows the rock and roll heartthrob armed and shooting from the hip. A shadowy Elvis figure is faintly visible in the background.

It was exhibited at the Ferus Gallery in Los Angeles in 1963, the year it was created.

The auction house said it's the first "Double Elvis" to appear on the market since 1995. The sale estimate is $30 million to $50 million.

Sotheby's identified the seller only as a private collector.

Warhol produced a series of 22 images of Elvis. Nine are in museum collections.

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Online: http://www.sothebys.com/

[Associated Press]

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