The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

Jackson portrait displayed in NYC car showroom

A rarely seen portrait of Michael Jackson is displayed by owner Marty Abrams, left, and Rick Kaplan, co-owner of Dancy-Power Automotive Group, a showroom that sells luxury cars to celebrities, in the Harlem neighborhood of New York Thursday July 2, 2009. Abrams says the oil painting titled "The Book" is the only portrait Jackson sat for because he was friends with Australian painter Brett-Livingstone Strong. The 40-inch-by-50-inch portrait was sold for $2.1 million in 1990. Abrams chose the showroom because it is near the Apollo Theater, where the Jackson 5 won Amateur Night in 1967. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

ENLARGE PHOTO

A rarely seen portrait of Michael Jackson sits on display as custodian Donald Hedges sweeps the floor of an office at the Dancy-Power Automotive Group, a showroom that sells luxury cars to celebrities, in the Harlem neighborhood of New YorkThursday July 2, 2009. Owner Marty Abrams says the oil painting titled "The Book" is the only portrait Jackson sat for because he was friends with Australian painter Brett-Livingstone Strong. The 40-inch-by-50-inch portrait was sold for $2.1 million in 1990. Abrams chose the showroom because it is near the Apollo Theater, where the Jackson 5 won Amateur Night in 1967. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

ENLARGE PHOTO

Macky Dancy Jr., 7, looks at a rarely seen portrait of Michael Jackson on display at the Dancy-Power Automotive Group, a showroom that sells luxury cars to celebrities, in the Harlem neighborhood of New York Thursday July 2, 2009. Owner Marty Abrams says the oil painting titled "The Book" is the only portrait Jackson sat for because he was friends with Australian painter Brett-Livingstone Strong. The 40-inch-by-50-inch portrait was sold for $2.1 million in 1990. Abrams chose the showroom because it is near the Apollo Theater, where the Jackson 5 won Amateur Night in 1967. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

ENLARGE PHOTO

Oakwood grad takes second on Project Runway
11/20/09
5 Thanksgiving movies to make your holiday
11/19/09
Despite Christmas rush, ‘Spectacular’ pretty good
11/19/09
Youth symphony has new season, co-director
11/19/09
Grammy nominee headlines pregnancy center benefit
11/19/09
> More headlines

The Associated Press 8:11 PM Thursday, July 2, 2009

NEW YORK — A rarely seen portrait of Michael Jackson is on display inside a New York City showroom that sells luxury cars to celebrities.

Owner Marty Abrams says an oil painting titled "The Book" is the only portrait Jackson sat for because he was friends with Australian painter Brett-Livingstone Strong. The painting shows Jackson sitting in Renaissance-era clothes and holding a book.

The 40-inch-by-50-inch portrait was sold for $2.1 million in 1990. Abrams says he acquired it in 1992 and had it stored.

The painting was unveiled at the Dancy-Power Automotive Group showroom in Harlem on Thursday. Abrams says he chose the showroom because it's near the Apollo Theater, where the Jackson 5 won Amateur Night in 1967.

The showroom features Rolls-Royces, Ferraris and other pricey cars.

___

July 03, 2009 12:08 AM EDT

Share this article