London, January 8 : An oil painting of Colin Firth, posing as character Darcy from the BBC period adaptation of the novel `Pride and Prejudice', is expected to fetch 7,000 pounds at an auction.

The oil painting, which appears in the fourth episode of the series, is set to be auctioned on January 21 in Bonhams Gentlemans Library Sale.

Accompanying the canvas, whose artist remains unknown, would also be a letter signed by the actor himself, reports the Telegraph.

The letter reads: "The painting was basically a bit part player in episode 4 of the BBCs 1995 production of Pride and Prejudice. Looking at him now I would say he has weathered better than most of us. In fact, he is the only character you can meet in person who looks precisely as he did the day he was filmed.

"Whatever you think of him today, you can consider yourselves fortunate to have been spared his earliest incarnation. Mr Darcy mark
1 came across as a shabby, insubstantial, derelict looking actor." (ANI)