Rare David Hockney Painting of Dog Stanley Could Fetch £2.5m at Auction

A rare painting by British artist David Hockney depicting his beloved dachshund Stanley is expected to fetch up to £2.5 million when it goes under the hammer at Christie's, according to a report in the Guardian.

The work, titled Dog Painting 17, is one of only six surviving pieces from Hockney's Dog Series still in private hands, and will be the first from the series to be offered at auction.

Hockney was known for his deep affection for his two dachshunds, Stanley and Boodgie, who were given free rein of his homes and studios. The Guardian's report recounts one anecdote in which, after one of the dogs had an accident in the Los Angeles home of actor Dennis Hopper, Hockney is said to have quipped that it would be dry by morning and could simply be picked up.

Rather than treating his pets merely as companions, Hockney used them as subjects for a series of intimate portrait paintings, several of which have become sought-after pieces among collectors of his work.

The upcoming sale is expected to draw significant interest from collectors given the rarity of the series and Hockney's stature as one of Britain's most celebrated living artists.