Manchester artist’s work celebrating history of football club is going up for sale

A piece of art created by Manchester artist Michael J. Browne is to be sold next month.

Titled Manchester United in Procession, the work depicts the history of the club through the ages and has spent some time at the National Football Museum.

Estimated at between £10,000 and £15,000, we spoke to a specialist to hear what makes it so iconic.

The work shows iconic United players such as Ryan Giggs, Eric Cantona, David Beckham, Paul Scholes and Wayne Rooney alongside managers Matt Busby and Alex Ferguson in procession.

The central figure, Nemanja Vidić, holds a golden ball as the players walk against a backdrop of triumphant iconography drawing on symbols of strength from the Roman Empire including the Colosseum, a triumphant arch and the Latin word ‘Legio’ meaning ‘chosen body or legion’ reigning high above the players, together with ‘X 20 X’ referring to the number of leagues won by United.

To the right of the scene is Manchester United’s stadium and across the painting held high on crosses are large silver trophies with gold crowns signifying their success and achievements.

Browne shot to fame in 2001 with his work The Art of the Game depicting Eric Cantona as Jesus.

The work was displayed at the National Portrait Museum.

Before this, his copy of the Sistine Chapel painted in the Cocotoo restaurant in Manchester attracted a great deal of publicity between 1992 and 1994.

Manchester United in Procession, which was created in 2013, will now go on sale in Dreweatts Modern & Contemporary Art sale on 12 October.