Rome Pays Off
Medium: Screen-print in colors on Saunders paper
Year: 1984/2004
Sheet: 44 x 39 1/4 inches (111.8 x 99.7 cm)
Edition: 85
Artist’s Proofs: 15 AP
Hors Commerce: 20 HC
Publisher: David DeSanctis Contemporary Art, Inc., Los Angeles
Signed and dated in pencil on the verso by Gerard Basquiat, Administrator of the Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat, with the Estate stamp.
Rome Pays Off is a striking example of Basquiat’s characteristic scrawl in text and image. His emblematic crown atop a stick figure, copyright signs, text referring to another world and marketplace, and roughly squared blocks of color all point to Basquiat’s fully mature style.
Auction Results
Estimated: USD 60,000 – 80,000
Rome Pays Off, 2004
From Portfolio II
Screenprint in colors on Saunders paper
Numbered 56⁄85 (there were also fifteen artist’s proofs)
With Gerard Basquiat’s signature in pencil within the artist’s estate stamps and dated ‘10.19.04’ on the reverse
Published by David DeSanctis Contemporary Art, New York
Phillips New-York: 21 October 2025
Estimated: USD 25,000 – 35,000
USD 61,920
From Portfolio II
An hors commerce, the edition was 85 and 15 artist’s proofs
Signed and dated ‘10.19.04’ by Gerard Basquiat in pencil
(Administrator of the Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat)
On a stamped Certificate of Authenticity on the reverse
Published by David DeSanctis Contemporary Art, New York
Phillips London: 7 June 2024
Estimated: GBP 40,000 – 60,000
GBP 53,340 / USD 41,835
AFTER JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT
Rome Pays Off, from Portfolio II, 1984/2004
Screenprint in colors, on Saunders Hot Press watercolor paper
Numbered ‘A.P. 10/15’ in pencil on the front (an artist’s proof, the edition was 85)
Signed and dated ‘10.19.04’ in pencil by Gerard Basquiat (Administrator of the Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat)
On a stamped Certificate of Authenticity on the reverse
Christie’s New-York: 14 March 2024
Estimated: USD 40,000 – 60,000
USD 63,000
AFTER JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT (1960-1988)
Rome Pays Off, from Portfolio II, 2004
Screenprint in colors on Saunders paper
Numbered 24⁄85 (there were also fifteen artist’s proofs)
With Gerard Basquiat’s signature in pencil, the artist’s estate stamps and dated ‘10.19.04’ on the reverse
Sotheby’s London: 26 September 2023
Estimated: GBP 30,000 – 50,000
GBP 50,800 / USD 61,792
AFTER JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT (1960 – 1988)
Rome Pays Off, from Portfolio II, 2004
Screen-print in colors on Saunders Hot Press watercolor paper
Numbered in pencil 26/85 and with the stamped Certificate of Authenticity signed in pencil and dated verso by Gerard Basquiat, the executor of the Jean-Michel Basquiat Estate
Tate Ward Auctions: 24 March 2021
Estimated: GBP 45,000 – 55,000
GBP 53,125 / USD 72,885
AUCTION RECORD FOR ROME PAYS OFF
AFTER JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT
Rome Pays Off from Portfolio II, 2004
Screen-print in colors on wove paper
Numbered in pencil from the edition of 85
Signed and dated in pencil verso by Gerard Basquiat with the Estate stamp
Sotheby’s London: 17 March 2021
Estimated: GBP 30,000 – 50,000
GBP 40,320
AFTER JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT
Rome Pays Off from Portfolio II, 2004
Screen-print in colors
Numbered A. P. 8/15
An artist’s proof aside from the edition of 85
with the Estate stamp verso, signed in pencil and dated by Gerard Basquiat
Christie’s New-York: 23 October 2019
Estimated: USD 30,000 – 50,000
USD 68,750
AFTER JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT (1960-1988)
Rome Pays Off, 2004
Screen-print in colors on Saunders paper
Numbered 54/85 (there were also fifteen artist’s proofs)
With Gerard Basquiat’s signature in pencil, the artist’s estate stamps and dated ‘10.19.04’ on the reverse