Aveedon's Dovima and the Elephants

I did a post a little while back on the famous model Dovima. I mentioned the photograph taken by Richard Aveedon, of her in a full length Dior gown between two elephants in 1955. This photograph has been described one of the most instantly recognizable images in fashion history. In an auction of Avedon’s work held in Paris over the past weekend, Dior bid for the right to bring Dovima home. Christian Dior paid €841,000 ($1.1 Million) for a seven-foot-tall print of the iconic image, setting a new sales record for Avedon’s work in the process.

"The 65 Avedon photographs in this sale represented not only the largest ensemble of his works to ever hit the market, but also offered several unique and extremely rare items,’ says Christie's, the auctioneers. ‘Proceeds will initiate The Richard Avedon Foundation’s endowment in support of its philanthropic mission." The auction of 65 works from the Richard Avedon Foundation raised a total of €5.5 million.

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