DAMIEN HIRST 'For the Love of God' (2012) Rare, Custom Framed Hand-Drawn Sketch

DAMIEN HIRST 'For the Love of God' (2012) Rare, Custom Framed Hand-Drawn Sketch'For the Love of God' by Damien Hirst, 2012 Rare original sketch based on the artist's iconic diamond encrusted skull. 11. 8 x 8. 5 Inches (sketch) 30 x 21. 6 Centimeters 24 x 32 x 2 Inches (framed) Hand drawn sketch on paper; acquired at the artist's 'Spot' gallery show, Rue de Ponthieu, Paris, France, 2012. Sketch is hand drawn and hand signed by the artist in black marker. Original artwork (#1 1) Presented with image of the artist's iconic art and

'For the Love of God' by Damien Hirst, 2012
Rare original sketch based on the artist's iconic diamond encrusted skull.
11.8 x 8.5 Inches (sketch)
30 x 21.6 Centimeters
24 x 32 x 2 Inches (framed)
Hand-drawn sketch on paper; acquired at the artist's 'Spot' gallery show, Rue de Ponthieu, Paris, France, 2012.
Sketch is hand-drawn and hand-signed by the artist in black marker.
Original artwork (#1/1)
Presented with image of the artist's iconic art and small portrait of Hirst with his skull.
*Note: Professionally custom mounted and framed in black suede matting, laser-cut logo/signature, UV-plexiglass and black hardwood molding.

ABOUT THE ART

Damien Hirst’s 'For the Love of God' (2007) is one of the most provocative and talked-about artworks of the 21st century. The piece is a platinum cast of a human skull encrusted with 8,601 flawless diamonds, including a large pink diamond set in the forehead. The skull itself was modeled from a real 18th-century human skull that Hirst purchased in London, with the original teeth retained to maintain a trace of mortality beneath the dazzling surface.

Measuring approximately 17 centimeters high, the work embodies Hirst’s fascination with death, beauty, and the value society places on both art and material wealth. The title, allegedly inspired by his mother’s exasperated remark — “For the love of God, what are you going to do next?” — encapsulates the tension between reverence and irreverence that defines the piece.

More than a display of opulence, 'For the Love of God' is a modern-day memento mori — a reminder of human mortality wrapped in the language of luxury and spectacle. By transforming an object of death into a glittering icon of consumer desire, Hirst invites viewers to confront the contradictions of contemporary culture: our denial of mortality, our obsession with beauty, and the way value is constructed through rarity and brand. When first exhibited at White Cube Gallery in London, the skull caused an international sensation, sparking debate about the commercialization of art and the boundaries between art, fashion, and excess.

Whether seen as a masterpiece of conceptual irony or as a commentary on the art market’s decadence, Damien Hirst’s 'For the Love of God' remains one of his most enduring and controversial works — a brilliant, unsettling fusion of death and diamonds.