Slim Aarons – Hotel Il Pellicano (1980)

Hotel Il Pellicano, 1980

• Artist: Slim Aarons (American, 1916–2006)
• Medium: Archival pigment print, printed later
• Dimensions: 96 × 145 cm
• Stamp: Getty Images Archive, lower right
• Provenance: Darren Lyons Collection, Geelong 

Hotel Il Pellicano is a large-format archival pigment print by Slim Aarons — one of the most celebrated, widely recognized, and culturally beloved photographers of the twentieth century — bearing the Getty Images Archive stamp to the lower right, and coming from the distinguished Darren Lyons Collection in Geelong, Australia.

Slim Aarons occupies a singular and enduring position in the history of photography. Born in New York in 1916, Aarons spent five decades photographing the leisure and pleasure of the international jet set — aristocrats, socialites, film stars, and industrialists — at their most relaxed, most glamorous, and most entirely at ease. His images, captured at the villas, pools, and hotels of Tuscany, the Côte d'Azur, the Caribbean, and beyond, document a world of effortless luxury, sun-drenched beauty, and golden-era elegance that has never been surpassed as a visual record of the way the privileged lived in the mid-twentieth century. His own description of his work — "attractive people doing attractive things in attractive places" — has become one of the most quoted formulations in the history of photography, capturing with characteristic wit and precision the essence of an output that has lost none of its power to enchant, seduce, and transport more than half a century after it was made.

Hotel Il Pellicano — the legendary Tuscan coastal retreat perched on the cliffs of Monte Argentario, founded in 1965 by American socialite Patsy Daszel and her companion Michael Graham, and patronized across decades by the most glamorous figures of European and international society — is among the most iconic subjects in Aarons's entire body of work. In this large-format 96 × 145 cm print, the full visual and atmospheric richness of Aarons's vision of the Italian Riviera at its most enchanting is given a physical presence and chromatic intensity of exceptional impact. The archival pigment process ensures a depth of color, tonal range, and long-term stability entirely consistent with the enduring cultural significance of the image. The Getty Images Archive stamp confirms the work's official documentation within the most authoritative archive of Aarons's photographic legacy.

The work comes from the Darren Lyons Collection, Geelong — a provenance of documented private collection history.

The work is in very good condition.

If you are drawn to Slim Aarons's sun-drenched vision of mid-century leisure and luxury, you may also be interested in Buzios, another large-format archival print capturing the effortless glamour of the international jet set in a spectacular coastal setting, or Desert House Party, an iconic image of poolside Californian leisure that is among the most recognizable works in Aarons's celebrated output — both available now at Lynart Gallery.

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FAQ

Is this an original work by Slim Aarons?
Yes — an authentic archival pigment print of Hotel Il Pellicano, 1980, bearing the Getty Images Archive stamp to the lower right, from the Darren Lyons Collection, Geelong.

What does "printed later" mean?
"Printed later" indicates that this archival pigment print was produced after the original photograph was taken in 1980, from the original negative, under the authority of the Getty Images Archive — the official custodian of Slim Aarons's photographic legacy.

What is Hotel Il Pellicano?
Hotel Il Pellicano is one of the most legendary and exclusive coastal retreats in Italy — founded in 1965 on the cliffs of Monte Argentario, Tuscany, and patronized across decades by the most glamorous figures of European and international society. It is among the most iconic and sought-after subjects in Slim Aarons's entire body of work.

What is the Getty Images Archive stamp?
The Getty Images Archive stamp is the official mark of the archive that holds and manages Slim Aarons's photographic legacy — confirming the work's full authentication and documentation within the most authoritative record of his output.

What are the dimensions?
96 × 145 cm — a large format giving the image exceptional physical presence and visual impact.

What is the provenance?
Darren Lyons Collection, Geelong, Australia.

What is the condition?
Very good condition. Full condition report available upon request.

Is this artwork a good investment?
Slim Aarons's photographs — particularly large-format archival prints of his most iconic subjects — have experienced exceptional and sustained collector demand over the past two decades, regularly achieving strong results at the world's leading auction houses. Hotel Il Pellicano, as one of the most recognizable and beloved images in his entire output, represents a particularly compelling acquisition.

Is worldwide shipping available?
Yes — secure worldwide shipping from France with professional packaging, tracking, and insurance.