Linda McCartney's Photos, Handpicked By Paul, Go On Display

LONDON — An exhibition of Linda McCartney's photographs, hand-picked by her husband, will be put on display later this week at the James Hyman Gallery in west London.

The prints show the range of the late photographer's career, which was overshadowed by the fame of her husband, former Beatle Paul McCartney.

Featured photos include iconic portraits of John Lennon, Mick Jagger, Janis Joplin, Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel. But the display also intends to show her range, with family photos of Paul McCartney and their children, as well as landscapes and interiors.

Linda McCartney was a professional photographer before she met Paul McCartney, but her career changed once she settled down, gallery owner James Hyman said during a preview on Tuesday.

"I'd say she was a very strong photographer, and part of what we've done here is we've tried to show the range of her work _ that it's not just pictures of rock stars in the '60s, which she's most famous for," Hyman said.

One of the most poignant images exhibited is a self-portrait she took in painter Francis Bacon's studio when she was receiving chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer. The photograph reflects death, showing an empty couch, a bust of British poet William Blake and McCartney's reflection in a broken mirror.

"We tried to be as true to what she wanted as possible," Hyman said. "That it's the paper that she liked, the platinum which she liked and the print studio that she used."

The display has taken three years to come together since Hyman approached Paul McCartney with the idea.

There are 25 prints of 28 photographs on sale. Prices start at $9,500 each.

The exhibition coincides with the 10th anniversary of McCartney's death in 1998 at the age of 56.

The McCartney family will hold a private opening Wednesday night at the gallery. The exhibition opens to the public on Friday.

Comments

[heretical_eggs]

Linda Eastman was a good woman, a loving wife, and a very talented photographer. I'm glad her husband has decided to show her works outside the context of her marriage to a Beatle.

[m888m]

now thats a love that i long for...paul and linda had it going on...

[wanked]

And how long was Linda dead before he married the little porn star?

[DCDan]

... Um, about five years.
Is that long enough of a waiting period for you, oh righteous one?

[THINKB4USPEAK]

Having thought, now I will "speak". Having lived through the 60s as a teen, my memories may be a bit hazy. (The smoke rising over Viet Nam may have obscured my vision.) However, I remember how rock before the Beatles was mostly formulaic repetition, with clone-like images to match. Linda Eastman was one of the new artists whose work broke from the same-old. Her portraits of the stars humanized them in a way no company hack could, because she was living that life with them. And honestly, I, like many, suspected her of gold digging when she married Paul, but actions do speak louder than words, and in the sum of her works and deeds,I think I was wrong, and just wish I could have met and compared pictures with her.

[EggsBolinski]

Paul should not publish pictures of Linda after he just divorced her. He should really think of the fond memories of his first wife Heather. Paul please don't do it!

[GeeBee]

Have you been drinking?

[heretical_eggs]

I would say smoking.

[MKJeeves]

Not everyone can take such candid pictures of people. The people in the many of the pictures are also such icons that you can't help but be fascinated by them.

[booker52]

I remember seeing the Beatles at the Hollywood Bowl in 1964. Being to young tot drive my friend's Mom had to drive us then sit with us, such a sweetheart!!! I too had a crush on Paul and John!!

[kiki1966]

I had the hugest crush on Paul when I was in junior high and was so jealous of Linda back then but fell for her when I learned of her compassion for animals and saw what a good-and normal-parent she (and he, too) was.

One of my favorite pictures of Linda is of her at Stella's first Chloe (?) show, sitting in the front row with really short hair due to chemo. She was so proud of her daughter that she couldn't stop beaming. I think she died a couple of months later. Ugh.

What a great love story.

[auramac]

She was a great photographer, and unfairly maligned. Sure, her vocals sucked, but Paul seems less inspired as a melodist since her passing, despite the good reviews. After his recent marriage and divorce, Paul and Linda look like role models for a true loving marriage. This is what it could really be like, Hollywood (and the rest of us)....

[rektruax]

Bingo... It had occurred to me that Paul has written absolutely nothing since she died that's worth a second listen. She was (it seems) a muse of sorts.

[random8r]

Paul's last album "Memory Almost Full" was his best work yet. No melody lacking - brilliant work. Sorry you missed it.

[BlueandGreen]

After the last couple of years with the anti-Linda (Heather whatsherface), no doubt Paul is missing his "other half" more than ever, making this retrospective even more bittersweet.

[MKJeeves]

Wish they would show the pictures. What? No one would actually go to see them then? Oh.

[pinkyboo]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/7363605.stm


Here are some on the BBC

[AnneOlivia]

Thank you very much for the link! She was an amazing photographer.

I have nothing but the best of wishes for Sir Paul and his family.

[Aramingo]

If you want an interseting gallery of Linda's work, pick up the LP version of Electric Ladyland. All of the inner sleeve photos were hers.

[DCDan]

Not sure what your point is, MKJeeves. Is it, if pics are displayed for free via Internet, the gallery will not get viewers to pay to go inside for exhibition? Or is it, if sample pics are displayed they would prove to be unworthy of our attention because she wasn't really a truly gifted photographer?

If your cynical quip is supposed to mean the latter then you're shamefully mistaken (and also not particularly humorous).

[MKJeeves]

Guess it COULD be taken the other way, didn't think of that (duh)

[MKJeeves]

Wow, cynical, moi? I just wanted to see the pictures sheesh! I think she's a great photographer.
:-(

[DCDan]

Okay then, point taken. Good to know that you are aware of Linda's superior talents as a photographer. You're just not a very good writer. And you are in fact cynical (sorry, you are, dude). I guess your point was the proprietors of the show were refusing to post sample photos in order to drum up attendance at the gallery in London. Or perhaps, the "they" are the writers of the article that didn't bother to attach sample works. Regardless, it took me about 2 seconds to do a Google search for thumbnail samples from the exhibit. Here you go:

http://www.jameshymanfineart.com/pages/exhibitions/thumbnails/710.html

[gappedtoothgodwarrior]

Wish i could go and see it, whatever peoples' oponions of Linda, she was a terrific photographer.