Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Damien Hirst Print Index
Sanctum - Chancel
Work Summary & Collector Notes
"Sanctum - Chancel" is an etching from Damien Hirst's six-part Sanctum series, published by Paragon Press in an edition of 59. Each impression is signed by the artist and numbered on the reverse, with sheet sizes varying across the suite. This is the "Chancel" plate within the architecturally themed group.
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
Within the Sanctum series, "Chancel", the space around a church's altar, deepens the suite's engagement with sacred architecture and its symbolic weight. The etching medium and Paragon Press publication mark this as part of Hirst's more considered, portfolio-based printmaking rather than his high-volume commercial editions.
Collector Perspective
With only 59 impressions, the series is tightly editioned, and its unity as a six-part suite rewards collectors pursuing complete sets. Paragon Press provenance underscores its quality. Verify the front signature and reverse numbering, and because the sheets vary in size across the series, confirm the specific dimensions of the individual impression being considered.
Historical Context
The chancel houses the altar and choir in a church, and its inclusion continues the Sanctum suite's architectural meditation on the sacred and the memorial. These concerns echo the mortality themes central to Hirst's broader body of work. Paragon Press, a leading publisher of contemporary British editions, produced this intaglio portfolio.
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 does "Chancel" refer to?
The chancel is the area of a church around the altar; it names one of the six etchings in the Sanctum suite.
What is the edition size?
An edition of 59, signed and numbered on the reverse.
Who published the Sanctum series?
Paragon Press.
Do the prints share one sheet size?
No, sheet sizes vary across the series.
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