A handout photo, provided to the media on Tuesday, March 25, 2008, shows a photograph by Michel Comte of Carla Bruni. Source: Christie's via Bloomberg News Naked Carla Bruni-Sarkozy Photo Sale Proceeds to Go to Charity
By Matthias Schatz
March 28 (Bloomberg) -- The sale of a nude photograph of France's first lady, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, is to benefit charity and not its owner, Christie's International said today.
Art collector Gert Elfering has decided the proceeds from the picture's sale at a New York auction on April 10 will go to the Fondation Kantha Bopha, a Swiss charity that supports sick children in Cambodia, Christie's said.
The gelatin silver print was taken in 1993 by photographer Michel Comte and consigned for sale by Elfering when the former Italian model was not even engaged to President Nicolas Sarkozy, Christie's spokeswoman Milena Sales said in an e-mail.
She said the decision to give the money to charity was "in light of recent events.'' The picture produced headlines around the world as the Sarkozys went on a two-day state visit to the U.K. The auction house estimate for the photo is $3,000 to $4,000.
Sarkozy married the singer and former model Carla Bruni in February after divorcing his second wife, Cecilia, in October.
Elfering did not immediately return a call to his mobile phone.
To contact the reporter on this story: Matthias Schatz in London at
Mschatz1@bloomberg.net
Art collector Gert Elfering has decided the proceeds from the picture's sale at a New York auction on April 10 will go to the Fondation Kantha Bopha, a Swiss charity that supports sick children in Cambodia, Christie's said.
The gelatin silver print was taken in 1993 by photographer Michel Comte and consigned for sale by Elfering when the former Italian model was not even engaged to President Nicolas Sarkozy, Christie's spokeswoman Milena Sales said in an e-mail.
She said the decision to give the money to charity was "in light of recent events.'' The picture produced headlines around the world as the Sarkozys went on a two-day state visit to the U.K. The auction house estimate for the photo is $3,000 to $4,000.
Sarkozy married the singer and former model Carla Bruni in February after divorcing his second wife, Cecilia, in October.
Elfering did not immediately return a call to his mobile phone.
To contact the reporter on this story: Matthias Schatz in London at
Mschatz1@bloomberg.net
