Come with me to Le Petit Palais and see the Patrick Demarchelier exhibition...

During my visit to Paris I took a few moments to visit the Patrick Demarchelier exhibition at Le Petit Palais,  which runs until January 4th, 2009.

Demarchelier is known for his wonderful portraits of models, rock stars, sporting heroes, royalty and fashion icons. He has worked on every major fashion magazine around the world and is responsible for some of the most memorable advertising campaigns. 

If you can't place him think, 'I have Patrick' - a line from the movie, The Devil Wears Prada where he is revered by high priestess of fashion,' Miranda Priestly' and more recently he had a small cameo role in Sex and the City the movie as the photographer shooting Carrie for her Vogue bridal assignment. He is the photographer who is filmed playing the photographer!

His images are as beautiful as they are striking and in the long gallery at Le Petit Palais they seemed to float above the walls. The curation of this exhibition was bold - the space was enormous and the images had plenty of room to breathe. The photographs were hung 'collage style' amongst the standing exhibition - the contrast between the contemporary images and the heavy oil paintings was eclectic in that superb way the French seem to master. 

The images below were standouts - I think I had a 'frock moment' when it came to snapping, but in truth every image was equally lovely and I could have clicked them all. 

It must be the full skirts and old fashioned glamour that I fell in love with,

The exhibition continued into the furniture gallery and the mounting of his photographs changed in order to match the wood paneled walls. Demarchelier's images were wooden-framed to compliment the 'boiserie' and hung in a classical style to blend with the collection of 17th and 18th century furniture and decorative arts

Here are some of the furnishings - the commode, the ornate folding screen and the tapestry sofa and chairs that were on show in the second gallery.

Patrick Demarchelier happened to be in Le Petit Palais when I was visiting, so I have come away with a signed catalogue - so much inspiration and beauty to mull over.

I thought it very apt that his exquisite images were shown in such an architecturally ornate and magnificent building.

If you are in Paris in the next few months don't miss this exhibition - it is not enormous and does not require a long visit but it is seriously luxurious on the eye.