Gallery Vassie



"The Click that Launched a Thousand Faces"

An Exhibition of Photographs by the Legendary Terence Donovan (1936-1996)

15th September until 3rd November 2012


Twiggy, 1966 by Terence Donovan
Terence Donovan, along with David Bailey & Brian Duffy, captured, & in many ways helped to create the ‘Swinging London’ of the 1960s.

Gallery Vassie is extremely proud to present an exhibition of the photographs of the legendary British photographer Terence Donovan. In the first ever exhibition of Donovan’s photographs to be shown in The Netherlands. The exhibition is scheduled to coincide with Gallery Vassie’s participation in UnSeen Amsterdam, Photography Fair & Festival (at the Westergasfabriek, 19th- 23rd September 2012).

Donovan was a contemporary, rival & friend of both Bailey & Duffy. Nicknamed the “Terrible Trio” by the British press, they were the innovators of “documentary” fashion photography, a style which revolutionised fashion imagery and furthermore the fashion industry.  

Dubbed ‘The Black Trinity’ by veteran photographer Norman Parkinson, the 'Trio' became far more famous than many of the models, with whom they worked, and were, for a while, even bigger than the glossy magazines that fought to publish their pictures. 

Terence Stamp on the Set of John Schlesinger's 'Far From The Madding Crowd', 1967 by Terence Donovan

This new & exuberant fame was portrayed in Michelangelo Antonioni’s noted 1966, groundbreaking film ‘Blow Up’. Which promoted the notion of the photographer as a cultural icon, & was  largely based around this notorious ‘trio’.
 
Terence Donovan, probably best remembered for his pioneering fashion & celebrity photography, was born in the East End of London & took his first photograph at the age of 15. The bomb-damaged industrial landscapes of his post war home-town were to become the background of much of his fashion photography, setting the trend for fashion shoots in stark gritty urban environments.
 
In 1959, at the age of 22 he opened his own photographic studio, which became an instant success. He was working for leading advertising agents & magazines such as Vogue, Queen & later the influential Nova, Marie Claire, Elle, Tatler, Cosmopolitan & Harper’s Bazaar.
 
In the early years of the 60s he shot mostly in black & white, becoming known for his informal, but intelligent style. In 1963 he took his first photograph for Vogue Magazine, beginning a relationship that would last until his death in 1996.


Julie Christie, 1962 by Terence Donovan
 
In the 1970s Donovan branched out into film production, with his film ‘Yellow Dog’ in 1973  & is famous for directing some 3000 TV commercials, documentaries & music videos. Probably most famously, Robert Palmer’s videos for ‘Addicted to Love’ (1986), which was voted best video of the decade &  for which he was nominated one of Vanity Fair Magazine’s ‘People of the Decade’ in 1989.
 
Few celebrities escaped Donovan's lens, which created memorable and iconic images of sitters including, Terence Stamp, Julie Christie, Sophie Loren & arguably the first ‘Supermodel’ Twiggy.
 
Alongside his fashion & advertising commissions, Donovan was also an ardent documentary photographer, which often overlapped style-wise into his commercial work. In this exhibition we are lucky enough to be able to present both his fashion & celebrity images alongside, the raw & gritty documentary work, that he made in 1960s rapidly changing London. 

Kitchen, Notting Hill Gate, London, from 'The Lay About Life' Photo Essay, 1960 by Terence Donovan
 
His photographs are testament to a life that, in the words of his wife Diana, “was supercharged with an energy that was completely inspirational”. Donovan leaves us a legacy, which is unquestionable and he will no doubt continue to inspire for generations to come.
 
All work is available for purchase.
 
 
For additional information & press images please contact us at:
+31 (0)685 724 797 or at info@galleryvassie.com 
 
Further information regarding the exhibition & the gallery can be seen on our website at www.galleryvassie.com 
 
 
By appointment only.

Celia Hammond, 1961 by Terence Donovan
All above images Copyright © The Terence Donovan Archive, All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:
Gallery Vassie
Langestraat 47
1015 AK
Amsterdam
The Netherlands

+31 (0)685 724 797

info@galleryvassie.com
www.galleryvassie.com

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Addie Vassie


Gallery Vassie
Langestraat 47
1015 AK
The Netherlands
 
info@galleryvassie.com
www.galleryvassie.com
 
+31 (0)685 724 797