TAZIO SECCHIAROLI, Brigitte Bardot

Vintage gelatin silver print mounted on wood by the artist Cm 64 x 49 Signed on verso, on wood Framed (black wood and plexi) size cm 74 x 64 x 5 Original provenance: the artist, Rome ItalyTazio Secchiaroli (Rome 1924-1998) is among the most interesting and relevant Italian photographers of the 20th Century. Born in Rome, he was devoted to “La Città Eterna“ for his entire life, shooting pictures with a small camera since he was a young kid. Street life, friends and family occasions were his first imagery, while later he was concentrating more on people portraits while walking in the center of Rome. He started making some money taking pictures of tourists as souvenirs of their Roman holidays and later, as a professional photographer for official visits of foreign politicians; this job was appointed by the agency V.E.D.O owned by Porry Pastorel a real teacher for Secchiaroli. Both were happily working together on very special projects such as reportage of peripheral areas of Rome which were published by local newspapers each Sunday. He soon opened his personal photo-agency, Roma’s Press Photo in order to have exclusive direct assignments to sell to specific magazines. Tazio Secchiaroli became a reference of the Italian lifestyle, only through his methodical photo- work in Via Veneto where mega Hollywood stars were spending their nights in hotels, restaurants and cafes. He was well known as the most controversial action- photographer, becoming part of the Roman cultural circle. Federico Fellini built on his deeds the character of Paparazzo for his Academy awarded movie “La Dolce Vita”. Secchiaroli is suddenly a real star by himself, nevertheless he feels it’s time to change his artistic path again. With the help of Fellini he decides to move his scenes from Via Veneto to Cinecittà where all the major movie productions are now based. Starting in 1962 with some of the famous Fellini movies such as 8 and 1/2, Secchiaroli concentrates the rest of his life to movie sets and cinema. He works with all the majors film directors and actors of the 60’s and 70’s, traveling all over the world; a special mention for Sophia Loren who decides to have Tazio Secchiaroli as her exclusive photographer for more than 20 years. He will retire from professional photography in 1992 when his long time friend Fellini releases his last movie “La voce della luna”, and dies soon after.Giovanna Bertelli