Photography

The French Riviera of the Fifties was an exciting place with much change in the air. Rock and roll and the bikini, existentialism and the atom bomb. Edward Quinn chronicled a playground that was influenced by international trends, but very much its own universe. On the Riviera every night was a party. Born in Dublin in 1920, Edward Quinn played Hawaiian guitar in Belfast, then went into the Royal Air Force. He eventually made his way to the Cote d'Azur, where he photographed world leaders, glamour girls and playboys, as well as figures from the worlds of art, music and literature. His most memorable work included images of an unknown Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly's first meeting with Prince Rainier, and a precocious Brigitte Bardot. His exacting eye showcased Picasso, T.S. Eliot, and Gary Cooper. With a polished technique and great patience and charm, Quinn caught some of the post-war Riviera's most memorable moments.