Brian Duffy was born in 1933 to Irish immigrant parents in East London. Growing up in a politicized household, Duffy’s parents were strict Catholics. They would raise the young Duffy in a working-class family environment. At the age of twelve, he was enrolled at a school in South Kensington, run by the London County Council. Staffed by injured ex-servicemen, it aimed to introduce “problem children” to the arts. Duffy went to art galleries, the opera, the ballet, and museums, and soon began to experiment with painting. In 1950 Duffy won a place at Central Saint Martin’s to study painting. While there, he realized his contemporaries were more talented and switched courses to dress design. His understanding of fashion would reward him throughout his photographic career. He would have a fundamental understanding of the principles of fashion, like the drape of fabric and playing with proportions.

In 1957 Duffy started his photographic career at Vogue, a relationship that continued into the 1970s. He worked with French Elle, where his artistic freedom flourished. For the Sunday Magazines, Duffy was a frequent contributor with all of the major British and US glossy magazines. The Benson & Hedges advertisements of the late ’70s and the ground-breaking Smirnoff campaign won Duffy acclaim and awards.

Norman Parkinson, celebrated fashion photographer, named Brian Duffy, David Bailey, and Terence Donovan as the “Black Trinity,” who became the first celebrity photographers to become celebrities themselves. Duffy’s work contributed to the advancement of fashion photography by breaking from the protocol of the well-established, stuffy 1950s fashion aesthetic.

Willing to take chances, Brian Duffy helped usher in the dynamic and creative energy that documented the vibrancy of the “Swinging Sixties” London scene. Duffy ultimately became one of the world’s most respected photographers. He shot five sessions with Bowie. The most recognized is the Aladdin Sane album cover nicknamed the ‘Mona Lisa of Pop.’ In 2013, an image from the contact sheet was chosen as the iconic image for the worldwide touring Victoria & Albert museum’s exhibition ‘David Bowie Is.’

Duffy was an eclectic and innovative photographer and one of the few photographers to have shot three Pirelli calendars. Duffy’s work is exhibited in museums and galleries worldwide. Duffy is considered one of the top 100 most influential photographers of all time. He developed a reputation as a ‘photographer’s photographer.’ 

​Duffy took this shot of Judy Dent for Vogue in January 1961 on Westminster Bridge, London. The photograph is taken from the West side of the bridge near the bronze statue of Boadicea and Her Daughters opposite Big Ben. In the background, the County Hall can be seen at which time it was still home to the local government of London. In the distance, a high rise is being constructed overlooking Jubilee Gardens. This view over the model's shoulder is now the exact location of the London Eye

THIS AUTHENTIC PRINT, FROM 'THE DUFFY ARCHIVE', WAS PRINTED BY DUFFY'S SON CHRIS IN 2008 & SIGNED BY DUFFY HIMSELF. ONLY 15 OF THE PLANNED EDITION OF 50 WERE PRODUCED BEFORE DUFFY'S DEATH IN 2010. THIS PRINT IS NUMBER TWO OF THE 15 PRODUCED.

GALLERY PRICE £2950.00 + VAT (£3540.00)

PROVENANCE: BEARS THE ORIGINAL ARCHIVE STAMP WITH REFERENCE NUMBERS & AUTHENTICATED BY CHRIS DUFFY. THE PRINT ITSELF IS SIGNED BY BRIAN DUFFY. THE ARCHIVE HAVE CONFIRMED ALL OF THE ABOVE VIA EMAIL.

LARGE SILVER GELATIN PRINT. HAND-SIGNED BY DUFFY & NUMBERED VERSO. FRAMED (NTERNATIONAL UNFRAMED).