Bob Dylan Rare Painting Sold at Auction for Nearly $200K

A rare abstract painting that Bob Dylan composed over 50 years ago recently fetched a very handsome sum. 

The artwork from circa 1968 by the rock icon sold for $196,156 at auction, RR Auction, which handled the transaction, announced in a news release on Friday, May 24 – which coincidentally marked Dylan’s 83rd birthday.

The painting was done during the musician’s time in Woodstock, New York, a period that saw him collaborate with The Band. Those recordings were later released on The Basement Tapes in 1975 and The Bootleg Series Vol. 11: The Basement Tapes Complete in 2014. 

RR Auction described the painting on its website as a “colorful and energetic abstract composition featuring the large central outline of a bull. The canvas is filled in with captivating abstract shapes and patterns combined with recognizable imagery, including music notes, bow ties, animals, and segmented features. At the top is the red outline of a man in a brimmed hat—mirroring his own style during his Woodstock days…”

According to the auction house, Dylan offered the painting to Woodstock-area resident Sandy LePanto in exchange for an astrology chart, noting that the painting had been in her family until it was recently rediscovered in her former husband, Anthony Lepanto's estate.

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"Sandy was not only one of the most beautiful women in Woodstock at a time when there were many; she was a mystic, a channeler, a reader of stars, and maker of astrology charts for her friends,” wrote Anne Margaret Daniel, per the auction’s description. “Mythologies fascinated her, and she read broadly and deeply in the legends of many cultures....Dylan gave Sandy a painting in exchange for the charts and readings she’d done for him.”

Outside of his legendary music, Dylan has been known for his artwork that has been exhibited. One of his paintings graced the cover of The Band’s 1968 debut album Music from Big Pink. His artwork was also used for his 1970 double album Self-Portrait. 

"Dylan's artistry knows no bounds, evident in this vibrant piece that melds music, symbolism, and personal reflection,” Bobby Livingston, RR Auction executive vice president, said in a press statement shared with PEOPLE. “With his 83rd birthday upon us, this sale highlights the enduring impact of his multifaceted talent.”

Meanwhile, Dylan is currently on tour this summer as a part of the 2024 Outlaw Music Festival, which includes Willie Nelson, Robert Plant, Alison Krauss and John Mellencamp.