Public Appearances, 1987-1991, Signed by Lord Snowdon
[Signed] Lord Snowdon. Public Appearances, 1987-1991. Book and dust jacket are both in very good condition. Book is signed “Snowdon” in black felt marker on the half title page. On that same page, above Snowdon’s signature is a third party gift inscription.
The common themes in this book of photographs by Lord Snowdon are its sly references and hints of theatre. It is akin to David LaChapelle’s work (but off steroids). The subjects are mostly from the arts and include actors, painters, ballet dancers, writers, musicians, and fashion designers. The section with portraits of late 20th Century leading fashion designers is nearly encyclopedic in its breadth. Also, there is lovely epilogue to one of the century’s great ballerinas, Margot Fonteyn. She is depicted in retirement at her ranch in Panama, looking distinctly elderly but still so very elegant.
“It’s perfectly all right to paint or draw the nude in a life class, but it’s very tricky to photograph the naked body with elegance. There is always the danger of vulgarity.”
--Lord Snowdon