"I guess it's a piece which talks about pride, missed opportunities and death." That is how artist Maurizio Cattelan describes his artwork, which chronicles every defeat the England football team suffered between 1874 and 1998.
"I guess it's a piece which talks about pride, missed opportunities and death." That is how artist Maurizio Cattelan describes his artwork, which chronicles every defeat the England football team suffered between 1874 and 1998.
Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images
Cattelan, an Italian, etched the results into black granite. It was first displayed in 1999, but it's now being auctioned by Sotheby's in London and is expected to fetch up to $900,000.
Cattelan, an Italian, etched the results into black granite. It was first displayed in 1999, but it's now being auctioned by Sotheby's in London and is expected to fetch up to $900,000.
Dominique Charriau/Getty Images
Cattelan has established a reputation as an enfant terrible in the art world.
Cattelan has established a reputation as an enfant terrible in the art world.
Alberto Pizzoli/AFP/Getty Images/file
cattelan untitled
Valery Hache/AFP/Getty Images/file
England fans are well versed in failure. The team did win the World Cup on home soil in 1966, but it has endured some tough times since -- including at the 2006 World Cup when it was beaten by Portugal on penalties in the quarterfinals.
England fans are well versed in failure. The team did win the World Cup on home soil in 1966, but it has endured some tough times since -- including at the 2006 World Cup when it was beaten by Portugal on penalties in the quarterfinals.
Shaun Botterill/Getty Images/file
It was Cattelan's native Italy which won the 2006 World Cup, defeating France on penalties in the final.
It was Cattelan's native Italy which won the 2006 World Cup, defeating France on penalties in the final.
NICOLAS ASFOURI/AFP/Getty Images/file
That final saw France's Zinedine Zidane headbutt Marco Materazzi in his final appearance before retiring from the game. The infamous moment has since been immortalized in bronze.
That final saw France's Zinedine Zidane headbutt Marco Materazzi in his final appearance before retiring from the game. The infamous moment has since been immortalized in bronze.
KARIM JAAFAR/AFP/Getty Images/file