Marilyn Monroe Photograph Auction Includes Rare Shots from “The Last Sitting”
DALLAS—Intimate photographs of Marilyn Monroe from Bert Stern's storied "Last Sitting" photo shoot may sell for a combined $36,000+ in a special auction March 10-15 at Heritage Auctions. The contemplative collection—from early, wide-eyed shots of Norma Jeane in 1945 to raw, sensual photos taken just two weeks before her death—will be offered exclusively on HA.com.
“This collection is well curated by a collector and highlights her entire career from her early modeling to iconic images from Bert Stern’s The Last Sitting,” said Rachel Peart, Director for Photographs at Heritage. “Marilyn is such an icon and the images continue to be as stunning today as they were 60 years ago.”
The auction’s selection of roughly 45 lots touches on Monroe’s final photo shoots, including a portfolio of color and black and white photos from sessions on the beach in Santa Monica and the Hollywood Hills. The photo shoot would be her last, taking place just two weeks before the starlet’s death. Numerous works by photographer Bert Stern from his series titled The Last Sitting, 1962, and ranges from the playful Marilyn Monroe, Here's to You, 1962 (est. $2,500) to the risqué Marilyn Monroe - Rhythm (from The Last Sitting for Vogue), 1962 (est. $3,000).
Marilyn Monroe, Sequined Gloves, 1962, shot by Stern, highlights the star's vivacious curves and trademark blonde locks (est. $6,000+).
Additional images from her first modeling shoots, when she was known simply as Norma Jeane, include a series of photos taken by Andre De Dienes from 1945 to 1949, including Marilyn Monroe (Tobey Beach White Swim Suit), 1945 (est. $1,200), and the touching, Marilyn Monroe, 1946, both estimated to sell for $1,200+.
Milton Greene’s Marilyn Monroe, 1953 (est. $3,000+) is an artful view of the actress at the very pinnacle of her career, while images by George Barris, such as Orange Bikini, The Last Shoot, 1962, (est. $1,200+) Marilyn Monroe, Stretched Towel, 1962 (est. $1,200) and Marilyn Monroe, Wondering, 1962 (est. $1,200+), perfectly juxtapose Monroe’s early innocence and her later sex symbol persona.
Heritage Auctions is the largest auction house founded in the United States and the world’s third largest, with annual sales of more than $900 million, and 900,000+ online bidder members. For more information about Heritage Auctions, and to join and receive access to a complete record of prices realized, with full-color, enlargeable photos of each lot, please visit HA.com.
Want to get the up-to-the-minute updates and breaking news stories about Heritage Auctions? Follow us on HA.com/Facebook and HA.com/Twitter. To view an archive of Heritage press releases go to: HA.com/PR. To link to this release on your blog or Website: HA.com/PR- 2707.
