LONDON.- Osborne Samuel present a major exhibition of photographs from the estate of celebrated British photographer David Farrell (1919-2013), internationally renowned for his iconic images of many of the greatest musicians, actors, authors, dancers and artists of the 20th century. The exhibition, which will be the first survey of Farrell’s work since his death earlier last year, will showcase images of many of his most famous sitters, from Louis Armstrong to Laurence Olivier, Margot Fonteyn and the Rolling Stones.

Born in London, Farrell studied at Dulwich College and later trained at the Royal Academy of Music. Following a period of active service with the RAF during WW2, in 1946 he moved to Gloucestershire, where he became a central figure in a circle of intellectuals and artists including Lynn Chadwick, Jacob Bronowski and Peter Nichols.

Abandoning his ambitions to become a solo violinist due to growing family responsibilities, Farrell turned to photography, securing a significant commission from the British Council to photograph a series of well-known artists including Henry Moore, Eduardo Paolozzi and Barbara Hepworth. These portraits established his reputation and attracted regular commissions for newspapers and magazines, and in 1955 he received his first music assignment to photograph Yehudi Menuhin and Sir Thomas Beecham at the Bath Festival.

Over the next 30 years Farrell made numerous portraits of musicians and performers in informal situations, preferring to photograph them at home or in the studio rather than in public performance. His approach proved popular with his sitters; Paul Scofield described him as the one photographer “who never intruded”. John Gielgud, on seeing his portrait, asked “David, where were you? I didn’t know you were there!’. Menuhin claimed that Farrell created the visual equivalent of his own musical achievements.

Expanding his portfolio through commissions from London Weekend Television and Thames TV, Farrell went on to photograph most of the pop stars of the period, including early performances by the Beatles, Cilla Black and Tom Jones. In the 1960s and 1970s he turned to theatre and film with an invitation to photograph the production of Peter Hall’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1968) starring Diana Rigg and Helen Mirren, and over subsequent years he worked on more than 100 films and TV dramas alongside directors including Michael Winner. and Ken Loach.

Upon his death aged 93, Farrell left an extensive archive of images which together form a fascinating “hall of fame” of the 20th century’s best-known stars of stage, screen and soundtrack. Osborne Samuel are celebrating and commemorating his extraordinary legacy with this important exhibition of highlights drawn from across his remarkable five decade career.