The photograph, above, of Duke on bath night is
currently for sale at a certain internet auction house. The description reads:
This auction is for an original 9" by 7"
photograph of Duke Ellington smiling while bathing. This is a rare photo and
may be unpublished. Stamped on the back: Olaf Ibsen Foto. Olaf Ibsen was a well
known Danish photographer of the 1940s & 50s.
It is the former owner of the photograph which
shows the Gallic connection, however. The vendor writes:
From the estate of Gaston Criel (1913-1990) French
author and Jazz critic and Paris celebrity of the 1940s & 50s. A friend to
many prominent French writers and artists and Jazz musicians.
Here is a photograph of M Criel.
