Stripped to the bone

A man holds his own skin over his arm. He is brandishing a scalpel and a pair of scissors, strongly suggesting he has just mutilated himself.

The 8ft bronze statue - Saint Bartholomew, Exquisite Pain - is the latest work from Britain's leading modern artist Damien Hirst.

He is joining forces with the Duke of Devonshire for a Sotheby's exhibition of modern sculpture at Chatsworth in Derbyshire.

St Bartholomew was one of the 12 apostles who, tradition has it, was skinned alive in Armenia.

Hirst said of his latest creation: "St Bartholomew comes from woodcuts and etchings I remember seeing when I was younger. As he was a martyr who was skinned alive, he was often used by artists and doctors to show human anatomy."

Hirst said his work was a homage to Tim Burton's gothic 1990 film Edward Scissorhands, starring Johnny Depp.

"I added the scissors because I thought Edward Scissorhands was in a similarly tragic yet difficult position," he said. "It has the feel of a rape of the innocents about it."

Hirst, who sprang to fame with art consisting of dead sheep and electrocuted insects, caused controversy in June with his 13.5-tonne bronze statue The Virgin Mother in the courtyard of the Royal Academy.

It depicted a pregnant woman with her skin cut away to reveal the foetus.

Francis Outred, Sotheby's specialist for the Chatsworth exhibition, said of Hirst's latest creation: "It is an incredible privilege to be able to present this breathtaking new sculpture for the first time.

"Its beautiful classical lines suit the stunning natural landscape of Chatsworth perfectly."

Also in the exhibition, which runs from today until 27 October, are works by Henry Moore, Anish Kapoor and Antony Gormley. All the works will be for sale.