PATRICK DEMARCHELIER
Patrick Demarchelier is revered for his subdued, classically elegant fashion photographs. Since he moved to New York from his native France in the 1970s, Demarchelier has shot color and black-and-white editorials for publications including Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, and Vanity Fair, as well as ad campaigns for Chanel, Dior, Louis Vuitton, Versace, Calvin Klein, and Celine, among other luxury brands. As a portraitist, Demarchelier is celebrated for his ability to capture the true personalities of his subjects—Madonna, Hillary Clinton, Anthony Hopkins, RuPaul, and Kate Moss, to name a few. Princess Diana so admired his work that, in 1989, she commissioned him to photograph her with her sons, William and Harry, making him the first non-British official photographer for the British royal family. In 2007, Demarchelier was named an Officer of the Order of the Arts and Letters by the French government. In 2008, he received the prestigious Lucie Award for achievements in fashion photography.
DIANA (VOGUE UK, OCTOBER 1997)
In 1989, Demarchelier became Princess Diana’s personal photographer. She contacted him personally after seeing one of his images on the cover of Vogue. She said she was impressed by the naturalness of his works, their sincerity and appealing simplicity. Demarchelier was the first foreign photographer who had the opportunity to take photos of the princess. This shot was made for the cover of the British edition of Vogue in 1997. Diana is wearing a red Valentino dress that emphasizes her beauty and elegance. © Patrick Demarchelier (Courtesy Staley-Wise Gallery)
Christy, New York, 1990
Christy, New York, 1990
Image size 60x50 cm
Frame size 84x73 cm
Gelatin silver print Edition 1/12
Printed 1992
Signed by the author on the verso
Inspired by “My Fair Lady” starring Audrey Hepburn, Patrick Demarchelier took a series of Christy Turlington photographs for the February 1992 issue of British Vogue. This photo was used as the cover image for an album of Demarchelier's photographs.
CHRISTY TURLINGTON, LINDA EVANGELISTA, CINDY CRAWFORD, KAREN MULDER, ELAINE IRWIN, NIKI TAYLOR, YASMEEN GHAURI, CLAUDIA SCHIFFER, NAOMI CAMPBELL, AND TATIANA PATITZ, AMERICAN VOGUE (COVER), APRIL 1992
Anna Wintour knew that the photo shoot dedicated to the 100th anniversary of American Vogue could be entrusted only to Patrick Demarchelier. In the issue published in 1992, we can see the most famous models of that time: Tatjana Patitz, Linda Evangelista, Cindy Crawford, Karen Mulder, Elaine Irwin, Niki Taylor, Yasmeen Ghauri, Claudia Schiffer, and Naomi Campbell. All of them are wearing identical clothing, which only emphasizes the unique beauty and style of each woman. © Patrick Demarchelier (Courtesy Staley-Wise Gallery)
DANCE STUDIO, CUBA. 1998
In the late 1990s, Demarchelier traveled to Cuba, where he made his famous photograph ‘Dance Studio.’ The image of girls dancing the salsa is light and atmospheric, and it has the lively motif so loved by the photographer. © Patrick Demarchelier (Courtesy Staley-Wise Gallery)
NADJA, NEW YORK. 1995
This photograph of German model Nadja Auermann was taken by Patrick Demarchelier in 1995 for Harper’s Bazaar, where he was chief photographer for a few years. The image of the German model wearing a white tutu is one of Demarchelier’s signature works. © Patrick Demarchelier (Courtesy Staley-Wise Gallery)
NUDE. ST. BARTHELEMY, CAT #1420. 1997
The series of nude models under water taken on Saint Barthélemy was included in the book ‘Forms,’ containing the photographer’s unique works. Naturalness is the key characteristic that Demarchelier always strives to emphasize. His unbelievable skill of capturing elusive poses and fleeting moments captivates viewers and somehow merges them into the underwater world, thus allowing them to feel the blissful atmosphere. © Patrick Demarchelier (Courtesy Staley-Wise Gallery)
NUDE. ST BARTHELEMY, 1994
The island of Saint Barthélemy is one of Demarchelier’s favorite shooting locations. The photographer returns there every couple of years for nude photo shoots. These beautiful, tender, and sensual black-and-white images convey a sense of tranquility and serenity. The model’s figure is half-hidden in the water and fades into it, showing the fragile, almost imperceptible balance between humans and nature. © Patrick Demarchelier (Courtesy Staley-Wise Gallery)
NUDES. ST BARTHELEMY. 1997
When Patrick Demarchelier takes nude photographs, he follows the principles of portraiture by attempting to create an atmosphere where a model ‘forgets’ about being in front of a camera. He doesn’t like it when his models ‘play nude’ or pose too much. The photographer doesn’t show us faces of his models but places the focus on their forms. Because Demarchelier believes that emotions can be conveyed not only by the face but also by the body, he conceals or leaves out the faces of his models. © Patrick Demarchelier (Courtesy Staley-Wise Gallery)
NADJA. ST. BARTHELEMY. 1995
This photograph features German model Nadja Auermann, whom Demarchelier deemed to be an icon of the 20th century. Images of Nadja are gems of the master’s portfolio, and it could be said that 1995 was the year of Auermann for Demarchelier. This shot represents the so-called ‘aesthetics of an accidental frame.’ First and foremost, Demarchelier tried to create an atmosphere where the model could feel free and relaxed. This explains the effortlessness and the mysterious magic in the photo. © Patrick Demarchelier (Courtesy Staley-Wise Gallery)
Natalia Vodianova, Portugal VOGUE (cover), December 2008
Natalia Vodianova, Portugal VOGUE (cover), December 2008
Image size 50x60 cm
Frame size 77x62,5 cm
Archival Pigment Print
Edition 1/8
Printed 2019
Signed verso by the author
NATALIA VODIANOVA, PORTUGAL VOGUE (COVER), DECEMBER 2008
Natalia Vodianova is, of course, one of the most popular Russian models of our time. Vodianova and Demarchelier are very close friends, which explains how she posed so naturally for the cover of Vogue Portugal in 2008. Her posture is static and calm and her Chanel dress emphasizes her beauty and gracefulness perfectly. © Patrick Demarchelier (Courtesy Staley-Wise Gallery)
GISELE BÜNDCHEN, AUSTRALIAN VOGUE (COVER), JANUARY 2015
In 2015, Patrick Demarchelier produced a photo of Gisele Bündchen for the cover of Vogue Australia. The model appears wearing an exclusive dress from Chanel’s haute couture collection with a conventional denim jacket tossed over it. In this way, the magazine’s team decided to show that haute couture is not always complicated. As usual, Demarchelier conveyed the feeling and the idea skillfully. © Patrick Demarchelier (Courtesy Staley-Wise Gallery)
KATE MOSS, BRITISH VOGUE (COVER), SEPTEMBER 2010
Patrick Demarchelier took this photograph of Kate Moss, one of his favorite models, for the cover of the British edition of Vogue in 2010. She is posing in a dark blue Burberry coat that has been thrown over her nude body. The photo shoot was quite involved for this issue of Vogue, with Kate trying on various images, from fashion rock to classic elegance. © Patrick Demarchelier (Courtesy Staley-Wise Gallery)
DANCER, 2000
Patrick Demarchelier loves the theme of dance in photography, so this image was a prelude to many ballet-related series that he produced later. The pose of the model wearing a white dance costume shows flexibility and enthusiasm, and the swing of her skirt conveys a feeling of airy lightness. © Patrick Demarchelier (Courtesy Staley-Wise Gallery)