'' Images of a Woman '' was painted over three nights in July 1966 in a Tokyo Hilton suite where all four of the Beatles ( John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr ) were staying as part of their tour of the Far East . The group had been placed in lockdown as a precaution by the Japanese authorities after death threats had been received . The Japanese tour promoter , Tats Nagashima , had painting materials brought in for the group to use . The band 's tour photographer , Robert Whitaker , was present and was amazed by how tranquil the band members seemed as they painted : " Absolutely the best period I ever witnessed among the Beatles " , Whitaker said , adding that he " never saw them calmer , more contented than at this time ... They 'd stop , go and do a concert , and then it was ' Let 's go back to the picture ! ' " The resulting painting was given to a charity auction . It was originally bought by the Japanese Beatles fan club president , Tetsusaburo Shimoyama . In the mid-1990s it was sold to an art dealer in Osaka for around $ 191,000 , and re-appeared in 2002 on the website eBay . It was put up for sale by Philip Weiss Auctions in 2012 , selling in New York City for $ 155,250
tour of the Far East
The Beatles' 1966 tour of Germany, Japan and the Philippines
Images of a Woman