Robert Polidori, The Powerful Beauty of the Palace of Versailles @ Camera Work

Robert Polidori, Louise-Marie-Adélaïde de Bourbon-Penthièvre Duchesse d’Orléans by Élisabeth-Louise Vigée-Le Brun, 1789. Chambre du capitaine des gardes, Chateau de Versailles, 2007.

BERLIN.- From May 8 until June 26, 2010, Camera Work exhibits works of photographer Robert Polidori in its gallery showrooms. The exhibition entirely focuses on the powerful beauty of the Palace of Versailles. Polidori's extensive documentation of the restoration process of the 1980s is supplemented by current works which have never been exhibited before.

The exhibited photographs present an exclusive selection of the three-volume illustrated book "Parcours Muséologique Revisité" which was recently released by STEIDL publishing house. The work comprehensively documents Polidori's monumental photographic work, which has in the meantime been concluded, at the Palace of Versailles over a period of 25 years. The work, awarded with the Liliane Bettencourt Prix de la Photographie, has was the highlight of a number of excellent publications such as, for example, "Havanna," "Sperrzonen - Pripjat und Tschernobyl," "Metropolis," or "After the Flood."

The photographs of Versailles are grandiose witnesses of a world long gone. Polidori understands how to subtly detect the interface between old and new, and, in the process, to look for the "emblematic moment" of the location - the unity of past and present. In doing so, the photographer is a master of special esthetics and composition. His pictures are complex still lifes, which, in their colorfulness and unique quality, provide a backdrop for the imagination of the beholder. In the peaceful stillnes and the detailed nature of his pictures lies an exceptional force.

Already in 2006, CAMERA WORK very successfully curated Polidori's first worldwide solo exhibition in a museum at the Martin-Gropius-Bau in Berlin. Due to the great demand and the enthusiasm among visitors, the running time of this exhibition was extended. In 2008, CAMERA WORK reacted to the broad interest in Polidori's work with yet another extensive exhibition. In addition to the pictorial series of the Palace of Versailles, the expressive and colorful works of Havanna, and pictures of New York, which uniquely illustrate the contrasts within a big city, Polidori's fascinating photographs of the Russian Kremlin were exhibited for the very first time.

Robert Polidori, who was born in Montreal in 1951, currently lives in New York and Paris. Extensive photo articles published in such magazines as The New Yorker - for which he works as editorial photographer alongside Martin Schoeller -, Architectural Digest, Geo, and Vanitiy Fair marked the foundation of Polidori's international success, which has officially been recognized by his receiving awards such as the Deutsche Fotobuchpreis or the Alfred-Eisenstadt-Award. Apart from the splendid photographs of the palaces of the world, Polidori also documents the often devastating impact of human encroachment upon his environment, as exemplified by his haunting series on the Chernobyl disaster and his documentation of the impact of hurricane "Katrina" in 2005.

Robert Polidori, Salle les Campagnes Militaires et le Décor des Résidences Royale, 2007, colour photograph, 60 x 50 inches. photo courtesy www.metiviergallery.com

Robert Polidori, Versailles, Salles d’Afrique, Portrait of Louis XVI by Callet #2, 2007, colour photograph, 60 x 50 inches. photo courtesy www.metiviergallery.com

Robert Polidori, Versailles, Chambre du Roi, Bed of Louis XIV, 2007, colour photograph, 72 x 60 inches. photo courtesy www.metiviergallery.com

Robert Polidori, La Meridienne, Bed of Marie-Antoinette, 2007, colour photograph, 60 x 50 inches. photo courtesy www.metiviergallery.com

Robert Polidori, Versailles, Appartement of Madame Adelaide, Painting of Marie-Clotilde-Xaviere De France, by Francois Hubert Drouais, 2007, colour photograph, 60 x 50 inches. photo courtesy www.metiviergallery.com

Robert Polidori, Versailles, Chambre de la Reine, Detail of Boiseries and Rideaux #1, 2007, colour photograph, 60 x 50 inches. photo courtesy www.metiviergallery.com

Robert Polidori, Versailles, Chambre de la Reine, Detail of Marie-Antoinette’s bed, 2007, colour photograph, 60 x 50 inches. photo courtesy www.metiviergallery.com

Robert Polidori, Versailles, Salle de L’Afrique, Portrait Achille Bazaine 1867, 2007, colour photograph, 50 x 60 inches. photo courtesy www.metiviergallery.com

Robert Polidori, Versailles, Salles XVIIIeme, Detail of portrait of Louis XIV, by Henri Testelin, 2007, colour photograph, 60 x 50 inches. photo courtesy www.metiviergallery.com

Robert Polidori, Antichambre du Capitaine des Gardes #1, Chateau de Versailles, 1985, colour photograph, 50 x 60 inches. photo courtesy www.metiviergallery.com

Robert Polidori, Questel Staircase, Chateau de Versailles, 1985, colour photograph, 50 x 40 inches. photo courtesy www.metiviergallery.com

Robert Polidori, Versailles, Salles XVIIIeme, Portraits of Louis XIV and the Marquise de Maintenon, 2007, colour photograph, 50 x 60 inches. photo courtesy www.metiviergallery.com

Robert Polidori, La Chapelle #2, Chateau de Versailles, 2007, colour photograph, 54 x 40 inches. photo courtesy www.metiviergallery.com

Robert Polidori, Salle de XVIIIeme #6, Chateau de Versailles, 2005, colour photograph, 54 x 40 inches. photo courtesy www.metiviergallery.com

Robert Polidori, A Portrait of Françoise-Marie de Bourbon, Duchess d’Orleans, Chateau de Versailles, 1991, colour photograph, 50 x 40 inches. photo courtesy www.metiviergallery.com

Robert Polidori, Vestibule, Chateau de Versailles, 1986, colour photograph, 60 x 50 inches. photo courtesy www.metiviergallery.com

Robert Polidori, Escalier de L’Aile Gabriel, 1985, colour photograph, 50 x 60 inches. photo courtesy www.metiviergallery.com

Robert Polidori, Versailles, Salles d’Afrique, Painting of Louis XVI. photo courtesy horsesthink.com

Robert Polidori, Empty Frame, Salles du XVII, Chateau du Versailles, 1985, fujicolor crystal archive print, mounted to Dibond, 50 x 60 inches. photo courtesy www.arthurrogergallery.com

Robert Polidori, Premiere Antichambre de Madame Victiore, 1986, c-print mat/fujicolor crystal archive print, mounted to dibond, 50 x 60 inches. photo courtesy www.arthurrogergallery.com

Robert Polidori, Le Serment du Jeau de Paume, Attique de Chimay, 1986, fujicolor crystal archive print, mounted to Dibond, 50 x 60 inches. photo courtesy www.arthurrogergallery.com

Robert Polidori, Salle de Bain, Marie-Antoinette, R.D.C. Cord Central, 2006, fujicolor crystal archive print, mounted to Dibond, 40 x 54 inches. photo courtesy www.arthurrogergallery.com

Robert Polidori, La Galerie des Glaces, Chateau de Versailles, 1988, fujicolor crystal archive print, mounted to Dibond, 40 x 54 inches. photo courtesy www.arthurrogergallery.com

Robert Polidori, Napoléon reçoit A. Finkelstein, Reza Bey, 27 avril 1807, ambassadeur de Perse. Peinture de François-Henri Mullard. Versailles, Attique du Midi, 2005, fujicolor crystal archive print, mounted to Dibond, 50 x 66 inches. photo courtesy www.arthurrogergallery.com

Robert Polidori, Galerie Basse, Château de Versailles. photo courtesy malleauxartistes.over-blog.com

Robert Polidori, Velours Frappé, Salles Du XVIIème, Versailles, 1985. image courtesy of the artist.

Robert Polidori, Marat De David, RDC, Aile Du Midi, Versailles, 1985. image courtesy of the artist.

Robert Polidori, Galerie de Pierre, Chateau de Versailles, 1985, Fujicolor Crystal Archive print © Robert Polidori/Courtesy Edwynn Houk Gallery, New York

Robert Polidori, Security camera and boiserie detail, Grand Cabinet de Madame Victoire, (54)CCE.01.052, Corps Central - RdC, Versailles, 2005. Fujicolor Crystal Archive print mounted to Dibond. photo courtesy Edwynn Houk Gallery, New York

Robert Polidori, The Royal Opera House, Chateau de Versailles, 1985. Fujicolor Crystal Archive print © Robert Polidori/Courtesy Edwynn Houk Gallery, New York

Robert Polidori, "The Smalah Room, Versailles" (1984). Courtesy of Nicolas Metivier Gallery

Robert Polidori, Versailles, 1er Étage, Corps Central, Chambre à Coucher de Louis XV, Paravent. Detail. Fujicolour crystal archive print, 2008. photo www.re-title.com

Robert Polidori, Versailles, Attique du Midi, Detail of Door and Keyhole #1. Fujicolour crystal archive print, 2007. photo www.re-title.com

Robert Polidori, Versailles, 1er Étage, Corps Central, Chambre à Coucher de la Reine, Wall Detail. Fujicolour crystal archive print, 2008. photo www.re-title.com

Robert Polidori, Versailles, Detail of the Bibliothèque of Marie-Antoinette. Fujicolour crystal archive print, 2008. photo www.re-title.com

Robert Polidori, Versailles, Dorures et Boiseries. photo from coolechicstylefashion.blogspot.com

Robert Polidori, Reserves des Bustes, Chateaeu de Versailles, 1985. courtesy www.weinstein-gallery.com

Robert Polidori, Salles XVIIIeme, Placement of Painting, Marie-des-anges Surieau by Philippe de Chamnpagne, 2007. courtesy www.weinstein-gallery.com

Robert Polidori. Ancien Vestibule de l'Appartement de Mme. Adelaide, Château de Versailles, 1985. chromogenic crystal archive print, 33 1/8 x 41 3/4" © Robert Polidori - Versailles

© Robert Polidori - Versailles