CHRISTIE'S auction house will next month sell a nude portrait of French First Lady Carla Bruni that was taken in 1993 when she was working as a model.

The gelatin silver print, taken by photographer Michel Comte, depicts President Nicolas Sarkozy's wife in a standing pose.

Christie's defended its decision to put on sale a nude image of a serving first lady.

Said Christie's spokesman Milena Sales: 'It's a work of art...It's a tasteful nude portrait executed by a well-known, respectable artist.

'Christie's stands by the works it represents to its clients. It doesn't censor or pass judgment on any content or subject matter.

'It's a perfectly respectable work of art.'

The print is expected to fetch up to US$4,000 (S$5,500) when it goes under the hammer on April 10. It comes from a collection of photographs that includes works by Helmut Newton, Herb Ritts, Richard Avedon and Leni Riefenstahl. Among the images it features are nudes of British models Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

This article was first published in The Straits Times on Mar 26, 2008.