Photography legend Gian Paolo Barbieri dies aged 89 (#1687573)

Gian Paolo Barbieri, one of Italy’s greatest photographers, has died, leaving behind a unique legacy that has shaped the history of international fashion and photography.

“The Fondazione Gian Paolo Barbieri announces with deep sadness the death of the great master of photography,” announced the foundation he founded in 2016. “Through his lens, Barbieri captured not only the elegance and allure of its models, but also the soul of Italian fashion, elevating it to the level of Art,” added the foundation.

Best known for his iconic advertising campaigns for Valentino, Armani, Gianfranco Ferré and Dolce & Gabbana, Barbieri was a regular contributor to Vogue Italia, Vogue America, Vogue Paris and Vogue Germany.

Known for his ability to humanize stars while capturing them in spectacular settings, Barbieri has created powerful images of legends such as Audrey Hepburn, Sophia Loren, Rudolf Nureyev and Monica Bellucci. His portraits of major fashion designers such as Giorgio Armani, Vivienne Westwood, Gianni Versace and Sir Paul Smith were among the favorites of the designers themselves.

“His unique vision has influenced generations of photographers, leaving an indelible mark on the world of fashion design and visual communication,” adds the foundation.

In addition to fashion, Barbieri produced a series of travel journals, notably his ethnographic report on Madagascar, which was acclaimed by critics and remains a classic of the genre. The same goes for his study of tattoos on the hyper-muscular heroes of the Pacific Islands in Portfolio: Tahiti.

Born in 1935 in the center of Milan into a wealthy Lombard family, Gian Paolo initially devoted himself to the stage and cinema, which then influenced his self-taught learning of photography. In the early 1960s, he first worked as an assistant for Harper’s Bazaar, before moving on to shoot for various magazines.

Dashing and elegantly dressed, Barbieri ended up photographing a pantheon of supermodels, including Jerry Hall, Veruschka, Eva Herzigová and Mirella Petteni. He has also worked for Vanity Fair and GQ.

His works have been exhibited at the Palazzo Reale in Milan, the MAMM in Moscow, the Erarta Museum of Contemporary Art in St. Petersburg, and the Shanghai Museum, to name a few. His photographic works are also part of the collections of the Victoria & Albert Museum and the National Portrait Gallery in London, the Kunstforum in Vienna and the Musée du Quai Branly in Paris.

Gian Paolo’s last decade was dedicated to his foundation, where he promoted photographic culture, supported young talents and preserved the value of photography as testimony and artistic expression.

His niece Giada said: “You were a second father to me, a precious guide who accompanied me in many moments of my life. You transmitted to me your passion for beautiful things like nature and aesthetic beauty In addition to moral values, you gave me an immense aesthetic heritage, teaching me to look at the world with curious and amazed eyes… Your love, your teachings and your memory will live on in me and in all those who. were lucky enough to know you.”

With the passing of Barbieri, photography and fashion lose not only a master, but also a gentleman who dedicated his life to the pursuit of artistic perfection.

“The Gian Paolo Barbieri Foundation will continue its mission by honoring the memory and work of an artist who immortalized the essence of his subjects. Goodbye Gian Paolo. Your art will continue to inspire the world,” added the foundation .