Legendary fashion photographer Patrick Demarchelier has died at the age of 78.
The announcement was made via a post on Demarchelier’s official Instagram account on Thursday afternoon.
“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Patrick Demarchelier on March 31st 2022, at the age of 78,” the post said. “He is survived by his wife Mia, his three sons Gustaf, Arthur, Victor and three grandchildren.”
No other information on cause of death was released at the time of this post.
The celebrated photographer has photographed Princess Diana in diamonds, Madonna in lingerie, model Gisele Bundchen in the buff, and countless magazine covers since the 1970s.
Watch on FN
Demarchelier, who served as Princess Diana’s personal photographer, was revered for his subdued, classically elegant fashion shots.
Since he moved to New York from his native France in the late 1970s, Demarchelier has shot color and black-and-white editorials for publications including Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, and Vanity Fair, as well as ad campaigns for Chanel, Dior, Louis Vuitton, Versace, Calvin Klein, and Celine, among other luxury brands.
As a portraitist, Demarchelier is celebrated for his ability to capture the true personalities of his subjects—Madonna, Hillary Clinton, and Kate Moss, to name a few.
In 2007, Demarchelier was named an Officer of the Order of the Arts and Letters by the French government. In 2008, he received the prestigious Lucie Award for achievements in fashion photography.
His life was not without controversy, though. In a Feb. 2018 report from the Boston Globe, Demarchelier was named among a slew of photographers and stylists who were accused of sexual misconduct on the job by 50 male and female models. Demarchelier denied the allegations at the time.
Fashion industry icons and former Demarchelier took to social media on Thursday to remember the late photographer.
Supermodel Cindy Crawford wrote on Instagram: “Rest In Peace, @patrickdemarchelier. Thanks for so many great memories and beautiful, timeless images.”
Christy Turlington Burns wrote this heartfelt message on Instagram: “When I think about @patrickdemarchelier I think about places. The many places where we traveled to make pretty pictures in the sun with our various fashion tribes. Cabo, St Barths, Venice, Miami, Los Angeles. But there was also, Tokyo, Kyoto, Rome, and Paris. Here in NYC, it was his museum like studio in Chelsea that never changed where I first met Patrick on a “go-see” in the mid-80’s. He was a tall, seemingly serious French bearded man then, whom I couldn’t decipher a word at first, let alone a sentence. That changed over the years. I learned to interpret everything eventually. The memories and stories are endless really. Another one is gone who was part of an era that is no longer. Rest In Peace, Patrick.”
Fellow model Yasmeen Ghauri posted on Instagram: “There were so many stunning photos, amazing trips and shared laughter. Patrick had an impish personality and an accent that was sometimes challenging yet always highly endearing. He photographed some of my first major editorials and I am incredibly honored to have been photographed by him. You will be missed Patrick.”
Designer Vera Wang also took to Instagram adding: “Me on one of my last shoots with Patrick deMarchelier, model Maria Carla Bosconi, stylist Panos Yiapanis…..we began our fashion journey together on a SHOPHOUND shoot for American Vogue where he met his wife Mia…I will always treasure his talent, his kindness and our long history. So many sittings for Vogue, then ad campaigns for Vera Wang, the company. I am saddened to the core. To his wife and family, I send my love. May he rest in peace forever more.”
Bella Hadid posted on Instagram: “I am grateful to have been lucky enough to be in front of your lens. Most gentle , most legendary , soft but full of life . You will be missed Patrick. Rest In Peace . 💔 and I got to shoot with one of my favorite people ever. @_chuwong . I will miss this day, and you dear Patrick…..”
Footwear designer Brian Atwood posted on Instagram: “RIP @patrickdemarchelier We lost a true talent and visionary #godspeed #patrickdemarchelier.“
Model Christie Brinkley wrote on Twitter, “I loved working with Patrick. I loved just hanging with Patrick on the many trips we did. I just loved him. He was a creative genius but in a casual seemingly effortless way, and he was fun and funny in his broken Franglais. My heart goes out to his beloved Mia, and his cherished Gustave Arthur and Victor and to his brother Eric.”
Model and actress Marisa Berenson added on Instagram: “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and Patrick was the beholder of beauty… what a privilege it was to be looked upon by You…🙏⭐️💔 @patrickdemarchelier.”
Jean-Baptiste Rougeot, the former publicist for the late Thierry Mugler, wrote on Instagram: “Working with you has been a fantastic adventure, bringing the best memories and put a smile on my face when I recall this shoot. Thank you to have brought more beauty to this world.”
