A canvas of Michael Jackson, put up for sale online, hasn’t found a buyer, according to Le Devoir.
The singer posed for the portrait, which was painted by Australian portraitist Brett Livingstone-Strong. Last April, the owner of the painting decided to put it up for auction on eBay.com, hoping it would sell for millions.
Titled The Book, the portrait depicts the King of Pop, on his Neverland ranch, dressed in a velour renaissance-style vest and resting a book on his knee.
To date, no sale has been recorded, but the organizer of the sale, Marc Samson, confirms that there are two parties in negotiations and that a transaction could take place soon.
The canvas’s owner, Marty Abrams, bought it in 1992 with his partner, John Gentilly. In 2000, the work was evaluated at a value of $5.3 million US by Belgo Art Appraisal and Restoration.
Abrams was therefore confinced that the painting would have appreciated in value by now, since Jackson’s death. He was hoping to sell the painting for at least $3 million US.
The starting bid on eBay was set at $2.75 million.