Gorgeous original glossy 10 x 10 photo of Marilyn Monroe lying on the ground with dumbbells at the Hotel Bel Air in Los Angeles, taken in 1953 by Andre de Dienes, with the reverse bearing his credit stamp and marked "Photo E" in pencil. Attractively matted and framed to an overall size of 17 x 17; the frame's backing has a window for viewing the reverse. In very fine condition. In 1945, de Dienes became the first photographer to shoot the young Norma Jeane as a professional model. His photos of Monroe appeared on over twenty-three magazine covers from 1945 to 1949 worldwide, with this particular playful photo capturing the blonde starlet at the peak of her fame—in 1953, Monroe became a household name when she starred in three hit films: Niagara, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, and How to Marry a Millionaire. Provenance: Julien's Auctions, The Personal Property of Goodman Basil Espy III, November 2019.
