[SergeiSK]

The auction house Bloomsbury exposes in New York for auction a collection of self-portraits of famous writers, artists, athletes, musicians and actors, which gathered a resident of Manhattan Bert Britton (Burt Britton). It is reported by Associated Press. Bidding will be held September 24, 2009.
His collection Britton began collecting in 1960, when he worked as a barman in a jazz club Village Vanguard. First, who agreed to draw a self portrait for Britton, was a famous American writer Norman Mailer, who stayed in the facility until late and did not want to leave. Barman Mailer allowed to stay overnight in exchange for a picture, which marked the beginning of his collection.
Subsequently, their portraits painted for Britton writers Anthony Burgess, Kurt Vonnegut, John Updike, Truman Capote, directed by Woody Allen, film actors Anthony Hopkins, Paul Newman and many others. Also among the collection of the former bartender, who later took up a book business, there are self-portraits Yevgeny Yevtushenko and Joseph Brodsky, artists Vitaly Komarov and Alexander Melamid, said Itar-Tass.
Estimated cost of the most valuable of the 213 lots - a self-portrait of the artist Philip Gaston - amounts to 30 thousand dollars. Familiarize yourself with some self-portraits can at liveauctioneers.com.
(Lenta.Ru)