Erotic photo sold for $500 thousand

At Sotheby's gone under the hammer 1 of the most legendary photographic works of the twentieth century - a snapshot of the artist Robert Mapplethorpe "Man in polyester suit". The client gave him 478 thousand dollars, twice its initial estimated cost.

The most expensive lot at the last in the auction house Sotheby's photographic auction was the work of the artist Robert Mapplethorpe "representative of the stronger sex in the polyester suit", which went under the hammer for $ 478 thousand, which is twice higher than its initial estimated price. Total sales amounted to $ 3.3 million.

"For us it was a great honor to auction this rare and significant work of Robert Mapplethorpe, and mind-blowing the result of the tender - evidence of abiding importance of the photographer" - quoted by TASS Manager of the photo Department at Sotheby's Christopher Mahoney. Sold a photo to some experts called one of the most important shots of the 2nd half of the XX century.

Robert Mapplethorpe received a little popularity for their own erotic photos. "Man in polyester suit" has become one of the most famous among them. "At the time when the picture was taken in 1980 - he was, indeed, avant-garde, but today it remains no less timely," said Christopher Mahoney.

The last time this black-and-white photo was exhibited on the implementation 23 years ago. Then its price was only 9.9 thousand dollars. Consequently, a picture has risen over the past almost 50 times. Scandalously famous photographer died in 1989 at age 42 from complications of AIDS since then, his work has risen sharply in value. The most expensive shot is the Mapplethorpe portrait of Andy Warhol, who in 2006 went under the hammer for 643,2 thousand dollars. "Man in polyester suit" became 2 value the work of the painter.

sections: Culture, World News