Seen from behind, she could have been any old shopper, perusing the racks at Liberty London. But after a tap on the shoulder the woman turns, and the big, brown, wide-set eyes gazing out from under her trademark fringe are instantly recognizable. It’s Penelope Tree, whose face remains a hallmark of the 1960s. When John Lennon was asked to describe her in three words, he replied: “Hot, hot, hot, smart, smart, smart!” When she came to Richard Avedon’s studio for the first time, he sighed: “She’s perfect. Don’t touch her.”
She has both a name and a face that we will never forget. Born in 1950, Penelope was the only daughter to socialite Marietta Tree and journalist and investor, Ronald Tree. When she was the age of 13 legendary photographer Diane Arbus spotted and photographed her. Penelope's parents objected to her career as a model but once she reached the age of 17 she moved into photographer David Bailey's flat in London's Primrose neighborhood, a hang out for hippies during the 'swingin sixties.' And the rest is history...
No comments:
Post a Comment