A painting depicting a woman on a hot summer's day in Brighton could fetch five million US dollars when it goes under the hammer.

A Fete Day At Brighton is one of 19th Century French artist James Jacques Joseph Tissot's most admired works.

It depicts his girlfriend Kathleen Newton in an elaborate dress, strolling along a Brighton street leading up from the sea.

The couple caused a scandal in London by living together because Mrs Newton was a divorcee.

They spent much of their time at resorts such as Brighton where questions were not asked about the absence of a wedding ring.

A Fete Day At Brighton, painted around 1875 to 1878, has been estimated to be worth between three million and five million US dollars when it is auctioned by Christie's at the Rockefeller Center in New York on October 26.

Buyers from England will have a chance to view the work next week at Christie's in King Street, London.

The painting captures Mrs Newton walking towards the viewer but with her head turned towards a shop window.

She is walking among the bustle, colour and festivities of the town holiday.

Tissot met Mrs Newton in 1875. She became the central figure in his life and his canvasses until her death from tuberculosis in 1882 at the age of 28.

Tissot, a refugee from the Paris Commune, had moved to London in 1871. He is believed to have seen her for the first time when she was on her way to post a letter while staying with her sister in St John's Wood.

By the end of 1876, she had moved into his house in Grove End Road and they lived there until her death.

Tissot often gave her the leading role in his paintings of this period and she became one of the most recognisable faces in Victorian art.

Martin Beisly, European director of 19th Century paintings at Christie's, said: "Tissot was very popular here as a stylish, slightly flashy artist but there was a lot of scandal around him.

"Settling with a divorced lady was not the done thing. Brighton became rather special because that was one place where they could be seen together in public."

Christie's has appealed to readers of The Argus for help in identifying the street in the painting. Contact Hanna Schmidt on 020 7389 2964 or email hschmidt@christies.com