Marilyn Monroe, just the name conjures up images of raw beauty and sexuality. A woman whose “look” became iconic over the years, managing to occupy the dreams of not just teenage boys, but young women as well. Her image, although tainted with tales from many a tabloid, still remains one of the most recognized faces and names of all time.
These photos from a shoot just before her death in 1962, are the last-ever taken of her alive and are a bittersweet reminder of just how much this woman’s beauty commanded attention.
The eight images, shot by close friend and photographer George Barris in the summer of ’62, just a month before her tragic death, are set to go on sale at the Bloomsbury Auction in London, June 4th.
Compilation: Barris had planned to include the pictures in a book about Monroe he was putting together
Barris, met Marilyn on the set of 1952’s “The Seven Year Itch” spoke to the Huffington Post about her and the day of this final shoot.
“What I particularly liked about Marilyn was that she didn’t act like a movie star. I was most impressed that Marilyn was always polite and friendly to everyone on the set. She was no phony or snob.”
Iconic: Six pictures for Bert Stern’s Last Sitting collection for Vogue are also on sale at auction
Barris told the Daily News that the image of Marilyn wrapped in a blanket, was the very last shot he ever took of her, and was the last professional photograph ever taken of her alive.
Grief: But Barris scrapped plans for the book, and refused to publish the pictures for years after her death
“She puckered up and said, ‘This is just for you, George,’ and blew a kiss to me. That’s the last picture I took of her.”
BloomsburyAuctionBNPS
The legendary actress, model, singer and poet known as Marilyn Monroe was born Norma Jeane Mortenson, on June 1, 1926 and died August 5, 1962 at the age of 36. These photographs are expected to bring about $1, 500 each.
“Goodbye Norma Jean
Though I never knew you at all
You had the grace to hold yourself
While those around you crawled
They crawled out of the woodwork
And they whispered into your brain
They set you on the treadmill
And they made you change your name…”
Elton John
Patrick James has worked as a firefighter/EMT for several services throughout the years, as well as a custom metal fabricator, certified personal trainer and chef.
Growing up in the rural suburbs of Detroit, it was during his frequent trips to Northern Michigan where he learned of his love for hunting and fishing. Spending several of his adult years in upstate South Carolina, his love of extreme sports took root in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains as he learned to rock climb and kayak.
“Courage and perseverance have a magical talisman, before which difficulties disappear and vanish into air.” ~ John Quincy Adams
