Obscenely well-connected art-glam lothario Bryan Ferry has called upon Kate Moss to star on the front cover of his new album, Olympia.

According to Ferry the image is inspired by Manet’s painting of the same name, but of course he’s never been one to shy away from celebrating the female form in his album art (see Roxy Music’s For Your Pleasure, Country Life, etc), and what can’t help but feel that the “concept” is a secondary consideration.

The album, which features guest musical turns from Jonny Greenwood, Mani, Flea and David Gilmour, is out on October 26.

“Kate has long been the femme fatale of our age,” the Roxy mainman told Metro, ‘As controversial as she is beautiful, and the most glamorous female icon since Marilyn Monroe…[Manet’s Olympia painting] was a kind of early pin-up picture and, in a sense, a forerunner of some 20th century pop art, which I feel strongly connected to.”

The shoot took place at London’s Sunbeam Studios.

“The designer, Gideon Ponte, built a fantastic set with the finest linen and the perfect bed,” said the 64-year-old singer. “Shoes and dresses were flown in from Paris, jewellery escorted by security guards, flowers were everywhere and we had a supporting cast of thousands.”

Meanwhile the recession continues.