Tousle-haired and relaxed during a break from work, Marilyn Monroe still displays the same allure that made her an enduring screen icon.
Taken by a trusted friend on location while she filmed her first leading role for Niagara in 1953, this picture has never been seen by the public before.
It shows the 27-year-old actress on the brink of international stardom.
Intimate: Trusted make-up artist Allan 'Whitey' Snyder took this charming shot of a 27-year-old Marilyn Monroe relaxing between takes
Smiling, she seems not to care that her top has slipped down one shoulder as she reclines by Niagara Falls.
In another shot, she wears a knotted scarf as a makeshift sunhat – an image a long way from the glamorous persona which haunted her until her death nine years later.
The man behind the camera was Allan ‘Whitey’ Snyder, Monroe’s make-up artist. She would ask him to photograph her to calm her nerves before filming.
He died in 1994 and the pictures were released after his archive of photos emerged for sale at auction in Beverly Hills this weekend.
Playful: Snyder spent hours coaxing and comforting Monroe as she prepared to film her scenes and managed to snap the intimate pictures
Stunning: The unseen photographs show a carefree Monroe soaking up the sun on a beach between film takes
There are dozens of pictures from the sets of other films including Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, The Prince and the Showgirl, Niagara and Something's Got to Give.
The archive includes letters and other ephemera and is expected to fetch thousands of pounds when it all goes under the hammer at auction.
Darren Julien, of Julien's auctioneers, said: ‘Whitey Snyder died in the 1990s and these items have come from his estate, so they have never been seen before.
‘Whitey was Marilyn's make-up artist for 16 years and had unlimited access to her.
‘They met when Monroe had her first screen test at 20th Century Fox in 1946.
At ease: The remarkable pictures, taken by Snyder, on the set of Niagra in 1953, were never meant for publication and show a more natural side of the screen legend
Star in the making: This shot by Romanian-born photographer Andre de Dienes was taken in 1955 by which time Marilyn was about to become a global star
‘Sometimes, especially in the early days of her movie career, she would get nervous on set and Whitey would photograph her and she would come to life.
‘It would take her mind off all her problems and this would happen during down time on film sets.
‘Some of them even show her in costume and they were never intended to be released to the public.
‘There are many other items in the archive as well as photographs and collectors and institutions will be keen to own them.’
The sale also includes a rare calendar with a picture of a naked Monroe on it.
Friendship: Make-up artist Snyder built up a close relationship with Monroe, enabling him to take the series of shots of the relaxed film star
Marilyn Monroe on the set of River of No Return in 1954, taken by Snyder
The picture was taken by Tom Kelly and famously appeared in the first edition of Playboy.
Mr Julien said: ‘These calendars used to sell for about 300 or 400 dollars but recently they are going for up to $6,000.
‘This one is in good condition and Marilyn couldn't do anything about the picture being licensed because she had no control over it.
‘But in a way it was the picture that helped launch her career.’
The archive will be sold in Beverley Hills, California, during a two-day sale starting on March 31.
This image taken by Romanian-born photographer Andre de Dienes in 1955, will also go under the hammer
Monroe, by now a superstar, pictured relaxing at home in a shot from 1962 taken by photographer George Barris
Playful: Allan 'Whitey' Snyder built up a rapport with the star, allowing him to take images such as this on the set of River of No Return
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2120983/Marilyn-Monroe-poses-27-trusted-make-artist-seen-pictures.html#ixzz1qfWBYEtk
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