Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Damien Hirst Print Index
Beneficence (First Edition)
Work Summary & Collector Notes
Beneficence (First Edition, 2015) is a giclée with glaze published by Other Criteria in an edition of 50, measuring roughly 49 x 36 cm. Drawn from Hirst's Kaleidoscope body of work, it arranges butterfly wings into a symmetrical, stained-glass-like pattern under a glossy glaze. Each print is signed and numbered.
Collector notes: The saved release record describes: Edition of 50. The saved release record describes: signed; numbered. Verify each feature against a documented example of this edition.
Why It Matters
Beneficence carries the Kaleidoscope idea forward from the first such painting, It's a Wonderful World (2001), which was inspired by a Victorian tea tray. The butterfly here invokes both the Greek Psyche, the soul, and the Christian symbol of resurrection, making beauty a vehicle for meaning and mortality.
Collector Perspective
As a giclée in an edition of 50, Beneficence is more attainable than the tighter Psalm runs while retaining the Kaleidoscope's decorative appeal. The 'First Edition' designation and glazed finish matter to collectors, as does the compact format that suits intimate hanging. Signature and numbering support provenance.
Historical Context
Hirst began working with butterflies in 1989, describing the insect as a 'universal trigger.' The Kaleidoscope paintings, initiated in 2001, reference stained-glass windows and Victorian decoration; Beneficence extends that lineage into an accessible glazed giclée edition.
Documented Release Details
- Object type
- Editioned print
- Release date
- 2015
- Release-date note
- Catalog-listed release year from the saved secondary record; primary release-page confirmation remains pending.
- Medium and materials
- Giclee Print; catalog dimensions 49 x 36 cm; Giclée print with glaze.
- Edition details
- The saved release record describes: Edition of 50.
- Signature and marks
- The saved release record describes: signed; numbered. Verify each feature against a documented example of this edition.
Documented History and Meaning
History note: This page treats Damien Hirst's broader career as background context, not proof that this specific edition belongs to any single exhibition or event. Release-level facts here come from a saved secondary catalog record.
Meaning / interpretation: Read as documented context rather than stated intent: Hirst began working with butterflies in 1989, describing the insect as a 'universal trigger.' The Kaleidoscope paintings, initiated in 2001, reference stained-glass windows and Victorian decoration; Beneficence extends that lineage into an accessible glazed giclée edition. This is an interpretive reading of the release context, not a statement of the artist's intent for this specific work. This interpretive note follows the cited artist or publisher context.
Release context: The saved catalog lists 2015 and attributes the edition to Other Criteria. The saved description also notes: Published by Other Criteria.
Authentication, Presentation and Provenance
- Original presentation
- Original packaging or presentation was not documented in the release sources reviewed.
- Authentication note
- Compare the support, dimensions, edition number, and signature against a documented example of this edition. Gauntlet Gallery does not authenticate works purchased from third parties.
- Provenance note
- Edition origin is attributed in the saved record to Other Criteria. That does not establish the ownership history of an individual copy: retain the original invoice, reseller or gallery paperwork, labels, correspondence, and condition photographs.
Sources and Verification
Verification status: Secondary catalog snapshot; artist-level context added
- Saved release record — Art Collectorz · secondary catalog snapshot · Accessed 2026-07-13 · Starting record for title, year, edition, dimensions, medium, and release description. Primary confirmation against the original release page remains pending.
- Damien Hirst — official site — Damien Hirst studio (Science Ltd.) · primary artist source · Accessed 2026-07-13 · Official artist site; career context, not an individual-edition record.
- Damien Hirst — Wikipedia · reference encyclopedia · Accessed 2026-07-13 · General artist-level biographical and career reference.
- Damien Hirst (Q294326) — Wikidata · reference knowledge base · Accessed 2026-07-13 · Structured identifier used for the artist across catalog metadata.
FAQ
What technique is Beneficence?
A giclée print with glaze, published by Other Criteria.
What does the butterfly symbolize here?
The soul (Greek Psyche) and, in Christian imagery, resurrection, per Hirst's Kaleidoscope framework.
How large is the edition?
Fifty, each signed and numbered.
How does it relate to the Kaleidoscope paintings?
It draws on the series begun in 2001 with It's a Wonderful World, itself inspired by a Victorian tea tray.
Related Damien Hirst Works
