^Lot 985 Katharine Hepburn

Wonderful original watercolor, ink, and oil profile self-portrait, dressed in a military hat and overcoat, 7.5 x 9.75, signed and inscribed in black ink to wardrobe mistress Violet Murray, “To Vi, Dear Vi, Only Vi, Not to worry, Katharine.” Double matted and framed to an overall size of 12 x 14.5. In fine condition. Hepburn’s love affair with painting can be traced to the 1930s, around the same time she began dating Howard Hughes, and continued until she was well into her 80s. This specific watercolor creation dates to around 1969—the year Hepburn starred as the title character in a Warner Bros. release. The recipient of this one-of-a-kind masterpiece was Violet ‘Vi’ Murray, wardrobe mistress for many of Hepburn’s films including The African Queen and The Lion in Winter.