George Michael's cash cow

Jul 23, 2007, 7:00 GMT

George Michael performs during his first concert in Poland in Warsaw late 11 July 2007. EPA/JACEK TURCZYK POLAND OUT

George Michael has bought a dead cow wrapped around a pole for £3.5 million.

The 'Fast Love' singer and boyfriend Kenny Goss are big fans of the controversial artist Damien Hirst and splashed out on his piece of artwork entitled 'Saint Sebastian, Exquisite Pain'.

The installation features the body of a black calf pierced by dozens of arrows and attached with cable to a steel post, set in a tank of formaldehyde.

The artwork is based on the story of the martyr Saint Sebastian, whose biblical story inspired the 1976 homo-erotic film 'Sebastiane'.

'Saint Sebastian, Exquisite Pain' is Hirst's fourth most expensive piece of art.

The artist's priciest piece of artwork is currently 'Death Explained' - a dead shark split in two which sold for £10 million to an anonymous buyer.

A pill cabinet entitled 'Lullaby Spring' sold for £9.6 million and 'God Alone Knows', featuring three dead sheep sold for £6 million.

Michael, 43, is a big fan of Hirst's work and his private art collection is thought to be worth £100 million.

He and Goss are now said to be interested in purchasing Hirst's latest creation - a diamond-encrusted human skull entitled 'Love of God'.

The platinum skull, encrusted with 8,601 diamonds and containing real human teeth, cost £12 million to make but is on sale for £50 million.

Michael and Goss' spokesman said: "They looked at the piece as a possible addition to their collection."

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