The artwork from the First Minister's official Christmas card is going under the hammer today.
Proceeds from the sale of Bella Caledonia by Alasdair Gray will benefit four Scottish charities: Children's Hospice Association Scotland, Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund, Glenachulish Preservation Trust and the Small Tribes Trust.
Sales of artwork from the First Minister's previous Christmas cards have raised £127,000 for a variety of good causes since 2007.
Speaking before the sale, Mr Salmond said: "I am very much looking forward to the buzz of the sale room at Great Western Auctions as the original artwork for my 2011 Christmas card is put under the hammer by expert auctioneer Anita Manning.
"Previous sales have all been very exciting and have helped some fantastic charities since the first official card back in 2007. With four excellent causes set to benefit, I hope this year's auction will go with a swing."
Auctioneer Anita Manning said: "All at Great Western Auctions in Glasgow are tremendously excited to be asked to sell Alasdair Gray's Bella Caledonia for the First Minister's charities.
"Alasdair Gray is a Scottish artist of international repute, whose paintings, books, murals and plays have portrayed the lives and people of Scotland in our times.
"Bella Caledonia is an iconic work by this artist. She appears to be an enigmatic figure but Bella Caledonia is an independent, free-spirited woman with an enquiring mind and a strong sense of social justice. And Alasdair has captured all of these qualities in this painting."
