Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Damien Hirst Print Index
Sanctum - Belfry
Work Summary & Collector Notes
"Sanctum - Belfry" is an etching from Damien Hirst's six-part Sanctum series, published by Paragon Press in an edition of 59. Each print is signed by the artist and numbered on the reverse, with sheet sizes varying across the group. This is the "Belfry" plate within the architecturally themed suite.
Collector notes: The saved release record describes: Edition of 59. The saved release record describes: signed; numbered. Verify each feature against a documented example of this edition.
Why It Matters
As part of the Sanctum series, "Belfry" contributes to a portfolio that reframes Hirst's recurring themes of mortality and the sacred through the imagery of church architecture. It represents his more traditional, intaglio-focused printmaking, distinct from the flat color and mechanical repetition of his spot and butterfly editions.
Collector Perspective
The edition of 59 keeps availability limited, and the piece's role within a coherent six-part suite appeals to collectors assembling complete sets. Paragon Press provenance signals quality. Confirm the artist's front signature and the reverse numbering, and because sheet dimensions vary across the series, verify the measurements of the individual impression on hand.
Historical Context
A belfry, the bell tower of a church, extends the Sanctum suite's architectural conceit and its meditation on the sacred and the memorial. These themes resonate with the mortality and memento mori concerns that run through Hirst's practice. Paragon Press, publisher of many major British contemporary editions, produced this intaglio series.
Documented Release Details
- Object type
- Editioned print or object
- Release date
- 2009
- Release-date note
- Catalog-listed release year from the saved secondary record; primary release-page confirmation remains pending.
- Medium and materials
- Etching.
- Edition details
- The saved release record describes: Edition of 59.
- 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: No per-work artist statement is recorded for this edition. Any thematic reading should be treated as interpretation of the imagery, not a documented statement of the artist's intent. This interpretive note follows the cited artist or publisher context.
Release context: The saved catalog lists 2009 and attributes the edition to Paragon Press.
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 Paragon Press. 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 part of the Sanctum series is this?
It is the "Belfry" etching, one of six architecturally titled plates in the suite.
How is it signed and numbered?
Signed by the artist on the front and numbered on the reverse, in an edition of 59.
Who is the publisher?
Paragon Press.
What is the sheet size?
Sheet sizes vary across the series, so individual measurements should be confirmed per impression.
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