Iconic Madonna nude in Bonhams' New York photography sale

Bonhams is to sell an iconic nude image of Madonna in a photography auction on May 8

An iconic nude image of pop singer Madonna will appear at a Bonhams New York photography sale on May 8.

Steven Meisel's 1990 Madonna nude

Taken in 1990, the image shows Madonna at the pinnacle of her career and sporting her arresting look of blonde hair and dark eye make-up. The image was shot in the same year as Madonna's Blonde Ambition World Tour, which Rolling Stone magazine named the greatest concert of the 1990s.

The American artist behind the image is Steven Meisel, who produced photographs for Madonna's 1992 book, Sex. The black and white image in question depicts a naked Madonna, shrouded in white bed clothes and smoking a cigarette.

"This is an absolutely stunning image and it is just a beautiful tone of grey. It is not just black and white it is grey and silvery," said Bonhams' Judith Eurich.

The image comes to auction only one week after her 15 year old daughter, Lourdes, was caught smoking by the press, prompting a furious backlash from the singer.

"She is a very healthy person and I'd imagine the cigarette is just a prop to make her look sexy and sultry," Eurich added. The image will be sold with a pre-sale estimate of $5,000-8,000. Another, more revealing image of the singer, made £37,500 in 2009 at a Christie's auction.

Paul Fraser Collectibles has a fantastic range of Madonna memorabilia. This basque worn by the singer on the Girlie Show World Tour frames her seductive image perfectly and gives collectors an opportunity to own a piece of musical history.

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Images: Bonhams