Shot in 1999, it will go on auction later this year

Jun 24, 2010 09:26 GMT  ·  By
Michael Jackson’s Blue Eye – never before seen portrait will go on sale later this year
   Michael Jackson’s Blue Eye – never before seen portrait will go on sale later this year

A set of never before seen portraits of Michael Jackson will go on sale later this year. Among them is also the image attached, called “Michael Jackson’s Blue Eye,” which was shot in 1999 and was considered a viable option for the cover art for the late singer’s 2001 “Invincible” album, the Daily Mail has learned.

Tomorrow marks one year since the King of Pop went into cardiac arrest and died from an OD and, even though there have been many developments in the investigation in his death, it remains as shrouded in mystery as it was one year ago. The auction that will see 11 photos go on sale will not shed any light on this, of course, but at least it will bring his fans, who are still mourning his untimely death, some form of comfort, it is being said.

“A never-before-seen picture of Michael Jackson is to go up for auction later this year. The portrait, entitled Michael Jackson’s Blue Eye, was shot by French photographer Arno Bani in 1999 and was one of the options for the cover shot of the singer’s tenth and final studio album Invincible released in 2001. The photograph depicts Jackson, who died a year ago tomorrow, with a sad expression on his face and a blue glittery ring around his eye,” the Mail writes of the recently unveiled image.

“It will be put up for auction, along with 11 other never-before-published portraits of the late singer and 50 contact boards, by Auctioneers Pierre Berge & Associes in December. Auctioneer Frederic Chambre said bidding for each portrait is expected to start at $1,228. Parisian photographer Arno Bani claims Jackson contacted him when he was 23 years old, after seeing his fashion photography in a newspaper. The portrait comes as the world prepares to mark the one year anniversary of Jackson’s death tomorrow. The singer died at the age of 50 on June 25, 2009,” the same publication further says.

Amidst talk of how Michael was worth more to his handlers and managers dead than alive, recent figures show that sales of all MJ merchandise (from commemorative items such as tees, hats and stationery to CDs and DVDs) have reached $1 billion in the year that’s passed since his death.