Controversy sells; at least that's what Christie's auction house will be hoping when a nude portrait of imprisoned director Roman Polanski and his late wife Sharon Tate goes under the hammer in New York next month. According to Reuters, the image -- reproduced as a large-scale gelatin silver print of approximately 33 by 33 inches -- was taken by photographer David Bailey in 1969, just months before Tate, her unborn child, and four friends were murdered by followers of Charles Manson in the Los Angeles home she shared with Polanski.
It was first printed in 1988 as part of a traveling photography exhibition, and later published in Bailey's book, 'Goodbye Baby & Amen: A Saraband for the Sixties.' It will be included in the sale's exhibition from December 3 to 6 at Christie's.
Polanski has recently regained notoriety for his highly publicized September arrest in Switzerland, over 20 years after his conviction for having unlawful sex with a 13-year-old girl. The director of 'Rosemary's Baby' and 'Chinatown' fled the States in 1978 to avoid sentencing and likely incarceration for the crime and has yet to return, even following his 2002 Oscar win for 'The Pianist.' He is currently being held in a Swiss jail awaiting a decision on a U.S. extradition request.
"It's an important image," said Laura Paterson, vice president and a specialist in the photography department at Christie's. "It certainly is provocative because of who the characters are. But it's also a touching naked shot of a happy couple."
The portrait reportedly features the couple from the waist up, with Tate posing in profile with her right arm over her husband's shoulder, while Polanski wraps his arms around his wife's torso. Paterson notes that renowned English photographer Bailey, "does capture the 'anything goes' flavor of that period," in the photograph.
The image is one of almost 200 photos up for auction on December 7, and is estimated to fetch between $8,000 and $12,000 on the block, though organizers admit it could sell for much higher given Polanski's current controversy and the portrait's tragic history.
Reader Comments (17)
Sabien at 3:11AM on Nov 26th 2009
Great. Some sick bastard making money from an horrific crime.
polanski protected by Europe. As was the dirty nonce Jack Nicholson protected by the USA. and touted as a great actor.
MS EM at 7:22AM on Nov 27th 2009
You are absolutly right!
Migel at 2:26PM on Nov 27th 2009
Oh, I was waiting for it so long! At last Miley Cyrus made Topless
VIDEO!! I didn't find it at her mySpace, as previous photos but after
half an hour of searching I found it here: http://dwarfurl.com/54357
Kate at 3:46AM on Nov 26th 2009
Totally agree, the reality is we now know this man is a paedophile. This world is really a sick place. Sympathy and defence of him from other brown nosing actors and people in the industry or they say nothing, unbelievable.
MISS EM at 7:21AM on Nov 27th 2009
You are right. Something is definately wrong with that picture!
John at 5:54AM on Nov 26th 2009
Sorry dont agree.
What Roman did was and is upto the judge in Cailifornia those actors who are friends of Mr Polanski can only speak for his charcter as an Dircetor.
Charles Manson and his followers bludgoned to death Polanski's wife and baby along with 5 other people - Mr Polanski seduced a 14 year old girl in the the USA 6 year later she later asked for charges to be dropped . Polanski served time on remand and then stayed in France for the last 30 years in France.
I would pass on your comments about Jack Nicholson who as no connection with the crime to his lawyers for libel and read up on you history of the case.
Lorca at 12:52PM on Nov 27th 2009
"a doctor" not "an doctor"
also: they did not bludgeon Tate to death, they stabbed her to death
Nicholson had allowed Polanski to use his house that day with the young girl. No, Nicholson was not there, but as to referring comments to Nicholson's lawyer, good luck with that.
gh at 8:04AM on Nov 27th 2009
first off...the girl was 13 but why quibble...13..14...11...
as far as the girl wanting the charges dropped when she was 20, well sorry roman ,our court system doesnt work that way here,even for hollywood types.
and john,you are an apologist for a ped/pervert.pass that on to your own lawyer and sue me.
exoticdoc2 at 10:40AM on Nov 27th 2009
"Unlawful sex?" Why doesn't the press call it what it is and quit trying to minimize the ugliness of what this worthless piece of human debris did? It was rape. He drugged, raped, and sodomized a little girl. Hang him.
herbie j at 12:43PM on Nov 27th 2009
Roman polanski is a pimp & a paedophile & a scumbag I'm done!
Jim at 12:55PM on Nov 27th 2009
If this was done by a republican the liberals would be going berserk but polanski is a holyweed liberal and they can do no wrong so the liberals protect him and brush it off as no big problem ...the man is scum and I hope they but his scum azz in prison for the rest of his stinking life hopefully he will be bunking with bubba and find out just how it feels to be sodomised
laughin at 1:07PM on Nov 27th 2009
omg that would make me puke to see that ugly man naked
sugarbowl2009 at 1:09PM on Nov 27th 2009
ROT IN HE$$.............YOU FREAK!
judith at 1:09PM on Nov 27th 2009
he sexually, emotionally, physically and publically caused this female human more grief than one can begin to understand..unless one goes thru it. dropping charges is an attempt to have the whole monster go away..which the monster himself did..runaway. she is just one that came forward..who else has this poor excuse for a man hurt. as with an ordinary man..sex takes preference over all else..he is a sex pred..just because shorty is hooked up with jerk movie stars does not excuse him from illegal crimes against children. he is an ugly man who has done nothing with his life..making movies is nothing in my book. real life matters..not the movies. he should be locked in a jail cell with his own kind and experience the intrusion of disgust he forced on that child. man's ignorance will be his final downfall..the word of the LORD. always in peace (of the soul)
Matt at 1:31PM on Nov 27th 2009
I think those actors defending Polanski would have a different opinion if it was there little girl who was drugged and raped. Yes. He can write a script. Big Deal. He has been running around France like nothing happened in 1978. Im glad he screwed up, and know he should pay for his crime. Thank you Swiss.!!! You have done a great deed. I bet his cellmate will make him remember what he did. He deserves everything coming his way.!!!
Tasha at 3:51PM on Nov 27th 2009
Matt, you are so right! All the actors in Hollywood would be sooo PO'd and want justice if it where their daughter who was brutalized in that way. May God love that girl who is now a grown woman who has the capacity for forgiveness. But has she really wanted to just drop the charges and "forget it" because it was a long time ago or is it the pressure of Hollywood who now knows who she is as a woman now of age and can be in the press? Just because he did the deed a long time ago and is a "brillant" director, blah, balh, blah, we should just give him a pass? All the stars supporting him must have been dropped on their heads as children (or adults) to look the other way just because of who he is. The prison and justice system doesn't care if you are famous, brillant or rich. They are an equal opportunity "employer". That is why lady justice is blind so she doesn't have to SEE this old pedophile and just try him as the perv that he is. A leopard doesn't change their spots just because they directed or wrote a few movies. Let him be famous for the crime NOT for running to Europe to avoid prosecution and then making a name for himself. The world hasn't forgotten what he did and I bet neither does his victim!
Ed at 1:38PM on Nov 27th 2009
The pig probably put it up for sale personally. I guess he needs the money to protect himself in prison.