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Clarence Sinclair Bull (American, 1895–1979)
LOT ID: 66290
Garbo as Mata Hari (Vintage), 1931

Silver Print, gelatin silver print
7.9 х 9.8 in. cm.
Stamped, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Lot description
Clarence Sinclair Bull was Garbo's exclusive photographer. Garbo worked better with Bull then any other photographer as she felt more trusting and confident with him.

Clarence Sinclair Bull, along with George Hurrell, virtually invented celebrity portraiture as we know it today, capturing with rare artistry a breathtaking roster of stars in brilliant and often surprising ways. His magical and dream-like photographs (in particular his collaboration with Greta Garbo whom he photographed almost exclusively from 1929 until 1941) became the classic images of Hollywood and were instrumental in fixing the essential look of a star and in setting standards of beauty.

Bull's days at MGM included 200 of his enduring portraits of such legendary film stars as Clark Gable, Joan Crawford, Katharine Hepburn, Hedy Lamarr, Gary Cooper, Elizabeth Taylor, Vivian Leigh, Spencer Tracy, Ava Gardner, Grace Kelly, and, of course, Greta Garbo. His accomplishments also include winning four Academy still photography exhibition awards.

Bull was born in Sun River, Montana in 1896 and studied with the great Western painter Charles Marion Russell. His early interest in photography took him to Hollywood in 1918 where he was hired as an assistant cameraman at Metro Pictures. He shot stills of the stars during the production breaks, and when Goldwyn merged with Metro in 1924, he became head of the MGM stills department, and remained at MGM for the rest of his career. He passed away in 1979.[aw]
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  • Clarence Sinclair Bull

    Greta garbo in "mata hari" #12
    photographs, silver print
    (H 20, W 16) in.
    (50.8 x 40.6) cm.
    Ed. of 99
    Sold for: US$1,725
    Friday, April 13, 2012
    artnet Auctions
    Lot 64916
  • Clarence Sinclair Bull

    Greta Garbo
    gelatin silver print
    (H 11.0, W 9.3) in.
    (28 x 23.5) cm.
    Sold for: US$1,188
    Monday, April 04, 2011
    Stockholms Auktionsverk
    Lot 04154
  • Clarence Sinclair Bull

    Greta Garbo oversize gallery portrait (from Mata Hari)
    gelatin silver print
    (H 10, W 13) in.
    (25.4 x 33.0) cm.
    Sold for: US$6,000
    Friday, March 26, 2010
    Profiles in History
    Lot 00037
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