Luxury furniture, sculptures and works of art belonging to the murdered fashion designer, Gianni Versace, are going to auction. Ahead of the sale, the Lake Como Collection has been unveiled in London, set in a lavish recreation of his Italian villa.

Versace, the designer responsible for that dress, worn by Liz Hurley. He was a huge favorite among big-name stars like Madonna, Elton John, and the late Princess Diana. And the darling of the super-models.

Gianni Versace - the man behind the label - was a prince of the fashion world, and a mainstay at shows in Paris, Milan, London and New York. But in July 1997, the life of the popular designer was cut short. The 50-year old was gunned down in front of his Miami Beach Villa.

Now, furniture, sculptures and works of art from the last of his four villas are to be auctioned off.

The item that has got the art world really excited is a portrait by Johann Zoffany of Major George Maule. The 18th century painter was a great favorite with the royal family of George III. The work is the only known portrait from a group of four that were painted during the artist's visit to Madras, India in 1783.

David Moore-Gwyn, deputy chairman of Sotheby's, UK, said, "We knew he painted this man. The picture has been untraced since probably 1783 when it was painted and now it's turned up. And we don't know, I think, exactly where he bought it or why he bought or what it was called when he bought it but it's a great excitement when a picture by a major artist turns up like this."