Works by esteemed artists Andy Warhol and Jackson Pollock will go under the hammer at an auction of contemporary art at Sotheby's in London next month.

Damien Hirst and Mark Rothko are among other celebrated modern artists whose works will feature in the sale on 6 and 7 February.

Sotheby's says the highlight of the first day's sale will be a series of works by Gerhard Richter - billed as "the world's most influential living artist".

A painting by German painter Gerhard Richter could fetch �1.8m

His 1970 oil on canvas painting Wolken (Stimmung), Clouds (Atmosphere) is expected to fetch up to �1.8m.

It comes from the same series as Wolkenstudie, Gruen-Blau which Sotheby's sold in London in June for �1,986,650 against an estimate of up to �500,000.

A sought-after work by Lucio Fontana from his 1960s La Fine di Dio (The End of God) series is to fetch up to �700,000.

The series consists of 38 oval pictures of identical proportions painted in different colours and with different compositions.

Miquel Barcelo's Tres Equis (1990) is taken from one of the artist's most important group of paintings, the Toros series.

It centres on the social and historical importance of bullfighting to the Spanish people and could fetch up to �300,000.

The sale also includes Jackson Pollock's Untitled of 1944, an early work from the artist's formative years, pre-dating his famous drip paintings. It is expected to fetch up to �450,000.

Rhapsody

This work by Mark Rothko is also included in the sale and could reach �1.2m

Mark Rothko's Untitled, a rhapsody of orange and yellow, is estimated at �1,200,000.

Damien Hirst has donated a painting from his nine-strong Gorgeous Concentric series in aid of the charity Scope. It is expected to fetch up to �70,000.

On 7 February, a private collection of six society portraits by Andy Warhol goes under the hammer.

Among Warhol's stylish and flattering commissions on sale are a portrait of former West German leader Willy Brandt from 1976, estimated at up to �70,000.

Oliver Barker, Senior Director of Sotheby's Contemporary Department in London, said collectors had shown great interest in post-war art.

"The February sale features works in that category which are completely fresh to the market and which we anticipate will be in high demand, " he said.