BEIJING, March 27 (Xinhuanet) -- French First Lady's nude picture will be auctioned at Christie's of New York on April 10, according to media reports Thursday.

    The image of Carla Bruni-Sarkozy was taken by photographer Michel Comte in 1993, when Bruni-Sarkozy was one of the world's most coveted models.

France's first lady Carla Bruni, wife of France's President Nicolas Sarkozy, arrives at a welcoming ceremony attended by Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip at Windsor Castle, near London, March 26, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    Auction house Christie's claims that the photo is expected to sell for 3,000 to 4,000 U.S. dollars. The auction will be held at Rockefeller Plaza.

    An official at President Sarkozy's office said the matter concerns the leader's private life, and therefore declined to comment.

    Nicolas Sarkozy married Italian former supermodel in a small and private ceremony on Feb. 2.

    The 53-year-old bridegroom and the 40-year-old bride married less than three months after they reportedly first met.

    This is the third marriage for Sarkozy, who has three sons, the 10-year-old Louis, from his marriage to Cecilia and Pierre, 22, and Jean, 21, from his first marriage to Marie-Dominique Culioli.

    Bruni has a six-year-old son, Aurelien, from a relationship with philosophy professor Raphael Enthoven.

    (Agencies)

France's first lady Carla Bruni, wife of France's President Nicolas Sarkozy, arrives at a welcoming ceremony attended by Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip at Windsor Castle, near London, March 26, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

France's President Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife Carla Bruni-Sarkozy arrive at a state dinner for Israel's President Shimon Peres at the Elysee Palace March 10, 2008.  (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

France's President Nicolas Sarkozy's wife, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, touches her hair as Israel's President Shimon Peres watches before a state dinner at the Elysee Palace March 10, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

France's President Nicolas Sarkozy's wife Carla Bruni Sarkozy(R) speaks with Israel's President Shimon Peres as they welcome the guests at a state dinner at the Elysee Palace, March 10, 2008.  (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

French President Nicolas Sarkozy (R) and his wife Carla Bruni-Sarkozy talk together during their visit to the Gugulethu AIDS institute near Cape Town on February 28, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>