Robert Mapplethorpe

Charles Tennant

1978

© Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation

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Not on display

Artist: Robert Mapplethorpe 1946–1989
Medium: Photograph, gelatin silver print on paper
Dimensions: Support: 340 × 341 mm
frame: 612 × 587 × 38 mm
Collection: ARTIST ROOMS Tate and National Galleries of Scotland
Acquisition: ARTIST ROOMS Acquired jointly with the National Galleries of Scotland through The d'Offay Donation with assistance from the National Heritage Memorial Fund and the Art Fund 2008
Reference: AR00191

Online caption

Mapplethorpe had got to know Colin Tennant (Lord Glenconner) in March 1976 when he was sent by ‘Interview’ magazine to photograph the guests at his 50th birthday party. Mapplethorpe later photographed his son, Charles (1957-96), in London. Here he is depicted as the epitome of cool, with his ruffled hair and aviator sunglasses shielding him from the bright lights which reflect off the painted door behind him. Tennant died at the age of 39.