Marilyn Monroe: Stunning exhibition of rare photos and artefacts marks 50 year anniversary of iconic star's death
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Fifty years have passed since her death, but the image of Hollywood icon Marilyn Monroe is as enduring as ever.
Her short but stellar life - she died in 1962 at the age of 36 - saw her make 29 films, pose for countless photographers and even sing on stage for the U.S. President.
Now, her colourful career, from model to movie star, has been charted in a new exhibition revealing rare photographs, portraits, original video and artefacts that once belonged to the star.
Pin-up: A portrait of Marilyn in a polka dot bikini showing the star as she was in 1951 is one of many photographs on show at a new Marilyn Monroe exhibition
Natural: Marilyn took to her modelling career with ease, wowing studio heads who went on to hire her for their films - the first, a minor role, in 1946
Included in the exhibition are a host of stunning black and white photos of Marilyn, some taken in the earlier part of her career, when she was still a brunette by the name of Norma Jean Baker; others from the latter part, when she was the platinum blonde icon whose image is familiar to us all.
The photographs, some candid snaps of Marilyn off-duty (though one assumes this eternal pin-up was rarely truly off-duty), others in which she adopts her classic sultry poses for the camera, have never been gathered together in one place for the public to view before now.
The exhibition also features a selection of original dresses and costumes worn by the star, which have been lent to the Getty Images Gallery by collector David Gainsborough Roberts, owner of the largest collection of Marilyn Monroe memorabilia in the world.
Louise Garczewska, Director, Getty Images Gallery says: We are extremely excited to present our Marilyn exhibition, offering the public unparalleled and rare access to Marilyn's life through the iconic imagery from Getty Images' extensive archival collection.
'David Gainsborough Roberts has kindly loaned us Marilyn's dresses which the public can see in London for the first time ever, making this exhibition a perfect tribute to one of Hollywood's greats.'
Looking every inch the Hollywood legend she is remembered as today, Marilyn arrives at the premiere of the 1954 Walter Lang film There's No Business like Show Business
In 1954, being photographed by Baron at her home in Palm Springs
Marilyn reading Motion Picture Daily in a portrait by Ed Feingersh, the photographer commissioned to document a week in the life of the actress in 1955, when she was attempting to move away from her dumb blonde image
A 1955 photoshoot at the Ambassador Hotel in New York City in 1955, when Marilyn was 29 years old
On a bicycle ride with husband Arthur Miller during their brief marriage. They wed in 1956 and divorced in 1961, a year before Marilyn's death
Marilyn studies her script in between takes
It's 1956, and a 30-year-old Marilyn is carried on the shoulder of American actor Don Murray on the set of director Joshua Logan's film Bus Stop
Sultry: After a decade of modelling, Marilyn perfected the art of seduction for the cameras
Attending a 1956 press conference at London's Savoy Hotel with British actor Laurence Olivier - who called her 'a brilliant comedienne - to promote their film The Prince And The Showgirl
Wearing the dress in the publicity poster for Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, in which Marilyn starred with Jane Russell, right
Costumes worn by Marilyn across her 29 feature films will be on display at the Getty Gallery exhibition
Marilyn runs until 23rd May at the Getty Images Gallery at 46 Eastcastle Street, London, W1W 8DX. Admission free. Visit www.gettyimagesgallery.com for more information.
A smaller exhibition will also be on display at Getty Images Gallery in Westfield Stratford City at a later date of 23 March to 3 June 2012.
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