Lord of the lens
After 50 years, the work of society photographer Lord Snowdon is finally available to buy
LORD OF THE LENS
AS ONE OF THE SOCIETY PHOTOGRAPHERS OF OUR TIMES, LORD SNOWDON HAS CAPTURED THE BIGGEST STARS OF STAGE AND SCREEN IN A SERIES OF INTIMATE AND ENGAGING PORTRAITS, NOW ON DISPLAY AT THE CHRIS BEETLES GALLERY IN LONDON. AND, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 50 YEARS, A NUMBER OF THEM ARE AVAILABLE TO BUY. WHO WOULD YOU TAKE HOME?
words: laura richardson
CHARMING AND DISCREET,Lord Snowdon has cut the quintessential gentleman figure throughout his prestigious career. Storms and scandals in his private life have failed to shake the esteem in which he is held and, despite his divorce from Princess Margaret in 1978, he maintains a close relationship with the Royal Family.
Born Antony Armstrong-Jones in 1930, Snowdon showed early creative flair as an inventor, designing a fully working submarine aged just six and an electric toaster and radiogram while at Eton. After dropping out of an architecture course at Cambridge, he took up photography and quickly became established on the London arts scene. But although his pictures of the glitterati have filled the pages of Vogue and Tatler, Snowdon has never been afraid to turn his lens to more serious issues, and has documented subjects such as old age, mental health and disability.
A retrospective of Snowdon’s unique career is currently on display at the Chris Beetles Gallery in London. Bringing together his portraits of film and theatre stars, the Royal Family and his documentary photographs, the exhibition will be the first chance in half a century to purchase some of his most iconic images.
Comedian Peter Sellers and his then-wife, the Swedish actress Britt Ekland, in 1967. He proposed after seeing her photograph in a newspaper and they starred in two films together – After The Fox (1966) and The Bobo (1967) – before their split in 1968.
Fashion model Jean Quick strikes a pose in an advert for Courtaulds Hats, 1957.
English satirist Peter Cook, widely cited as one of the funniest comedians ever, looks anything but amused as he poses in Camden Town, London, in 1967.
Russia’s greatest male ballet dancer, Rudolf Nureyev, is photographed here during rehearsals with The Royal Ballet School in 1963. His outstanding technique, good looks and astonishing charisma on stage made him an international star. For over 12 years he was part of ballet’s most legendary partnership with Dame Margot Fonteyn, the leading British dancer of the time. They had incredible chemistry on stage and a lifelong friendship off it.
The American socialite Babe Paley in a suitably lofty position here high above the New York City streets in 1958. Fashion editor for Vogue, Paley thought nothing of snapping up entire haute couture collections, leading to her reputation as one of the world’s best-dressed women.
Princess Diana, 1991. Snowdon has photographed the Royals on numerous occasions, his famed discretion keeping him in favour with them even after his divorce from Princess Margaret. Two of his portraits of Princess Diana were turned into commemorative stamps after her death.
Actress, singer and cabaret star Marlene Dietrich oozes androgynous glamour in the smoke-filled Café de Paris, London, 1955.
Looking the epitome of elegance and sophistication in this portrait, Princess Margaret was nonetheless noted for her controversial relationships and party lifestyle. Antony Armstrong-Jones may have been a commoner but he was no pushover and their marriage was often a battle of wills, marred by affairs on both sides. Despite this, Snowdon has never revealed the secrets of his life with the Princess – with whom he had a son and daughter – and was among the select mourners invited to her private funeral in 2002.
