Banksy’s satirical oil painting depicting the House of Commons filled with chimpanzees sold at auction in London for a record-breaking price, setting art enthusiasts alight.
The painting entitled “Devoted Parliament,” by the British artist whose identity remains famously unknown smashed its pre-sale estimate escalating to a final sale price of 9,879,500 British pounds, equivalent to $12.2 million, according to Sotheby’s.
The size of the painting is roughly 13 feet wide and is by far the largest canvas piece ever created by Bansky.
The monumental work of art was created in 2009 and is said to bring “premonitory insight into the increasingly tumultuous face of politics in contemporary Britain,” according to Sotheby’s. The well-known artwork replaces debating members of Parliament with chimpanzees sitting amongst a scene occupied by madness and mayhem.
The artwork was first exhibited in the Banksy versus Bristol Museum exhibition, back in 2009. The exhibit attracted over 300,000 visitors, according to Sotheby’s.
Banksy, who has never disclosed his full identity, began his career spray-painting buildings in Bristol, England, and has become one of the world’s best-known artists.
