Such a McQueen

From the BBC:

A portrait of the late fashion designer Alexander McQueen and magazine editor Isabella Blow has been acquired by the National Portrait Gallery (NPG).

Burning Down by surrealist photographer David LaChapelle was originally published in Vanity Fair in 1997.

The shot was accompanied by an article branding McQueen and his mentor The Provocateurs.

NPG director Sandy Nairne said he was "delighted" to receive the work, which is now on display in the gallery.

The portrait was shot at Hedingham Castle in Essex in 1996 and shows McQueen dressed as a woman, brandishing a flaming torch.

Both subjects were dressed in clothes designed by McQueen, while Blow was also wearing a Philip Treacy hat.

At the time of the shoot McQueen, who passed away last year, was just 27 years old and had recently debuted his first couture collection for the House of Givenchy.

Blow, 38 at the time of the shoot, was largely credited with discovering McQueen.

"I am delighted that this astonishing double portrait celebrating two highly influential figures in British fashion by David LaChapelle has entered the National Portrait Gallery Collection," Mr Nairne said.

National Portrait Gallery collections