Exeter gallery showcaes intimate images of Hollywood icon
A new collection of intimate and iconic photographs of Hollywood starlet, Marilyn Monroe, are on display at Castle Galleries, Exeter.
The images are taken from the private collection of famed Hollywood fine art collector and publisher, Edward Weston. Weston built the portfolio over five decades and was entranced by the glamour of the golden era of film, and captured by the beauty of icon Marilyn Monroe.
The photographs follow the Hollywood star through her career, from her beginnings as a model and actress in 1948, to her final photo shoot in 1962.
The collection is comprised of the works of Laszlo Willinger, Andre De Dienes, Kashio Aoki, and George Barris who were some of Marilyn’s most trusted photographers. Through photography, they documented Marilyn’s life in the spotlight and captured the star both at the height of her career and at her most vulnerable.
The collection contains some of the most iconic images of Marilyn, including the images taken of her on Tobay Beach in New York by Andre De Dienes. De Dienes first came into contact with Marilyn in 1945 when he hired her for one of her earliest modelling jobs and their working relationship continued until 1953.
Speaking of Marilyn and the Tobay Beach photo shoot, De Dienes said at the time: “She had the presence of an established star, she was radiant.”
The collection also includes the last ever professional photographs taken of Marilyn in July 1962, before her untimely death in August that year.
Taken by photographer George Barris for Cosmopolitan Magazine, Barris recalled at the time, “Marilyn was willing to show her public the real Marilyn Monroe, the real Norma Jeane. She would hide nothing in our photos. No magic or make up in our finished photographs.
“She was wonderful to work with the entire time. She never looked more beautiful.”
Before the photographs or interviews could reach the public, Marilyn tragically died on August 5, 1962 and Barris held some of the photographs he took of her that day for over 30 years, before finally sharing them with the world.
Rita Jones, gallery manager at Castle Galleries, Exeter said: “This collection of photographs holds some truly striking and breathtaking images and capture the very essence of the twentieth century’s most enigmatic film icon, Marilyn Monroe. Edward Weston once said: ‘With Marilyn, I never fall out of love’ and I believe that is true of most of us, her fame is unparalleled and it’s a privilege to be able to display this collection.”
Limited prints of Edward Weston’s collection are available to buy and start from £699
For more information about Castle Galleries, Exeter call 01392 425 242 or visit www.castlegalleries.com
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