Amateur Photographer Magazine

Irving Penn death: London show to go ahead (update)

Thursday 8th October 2009

Chris Cheesman

An exhibition of Irving Penn photos will go ahead at the National Portrait Gallery in London, despite the photographer's death yesterday, the gallery has confirmed today.

NEWS UPDATE: Penn photos to star at auction

It will be the first Penn exhibition in the UK for 20 years and the 'largest ever' UK show devoted to Penn's portrait work, say organisers.

A National Portrait Gallery spokeswoman said that the gallery was 'very saddened' by the news of Penn's death at the age of 92, describing him as 'one of the greatest photographers of his generation'.

She confirmed to Amateur Photographer that Irving Penn Portraits will take place, as planned, from 18 February-31 May 2010.

The show will feature more than 120 prints, spanning 70 years, focusing on Penn's portraits of 'prominent cultural figures'.

It will include portraits of Pablo Picasso, Truman Capote and Marlene Dietrich.

The gallery is set to announce further details of the exhibition on 22 October.

More recently, Penn's famous subjects have included Kate Moss.

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