Monique Kouznetzoff - Monica BELLUCCI - 2010

French-language book in large format (26 cm x 34 cm) with superb photographs (249 pages) taken by the greatest photographers of the model and actress Monica Bellucci. Book with its three red edges and an introduction by Giuseppe Tornatore.
Monica Bellucci began modeling at the age of 13 by posing for a family friend photographer in Città di Castello. Piero Montanucci, a hairdresser from Città di Castello, met her while she was hitchhiking and persuaded her to become his model. Bellucci, a student at the classical high school, did not go unnoticed and drew eyes wherever she went. A friend of her father, who ran a fashion agency, asked her to do fashion photos at age 16. Dressed by fashion entrepreneur Pina Alberti, based in Città di Castello, Bellucci excited the crowd at a fashion show organized in 1983 at the Teatro degli Illuminati, the town’s municipal theater, as part of the Momento Donna event hosted by Maria Giovanna Elmi. At that time, Montanucci was her mentor. During her studies, a friend of her father allowed her to debut on the runway at a show in Florence and another in Milan. She then began doing three shows a year.

Monica Bellucci photographed at the Hôtel Raphael in Paris in March 1990.
Monica Bellucci, who contemplated becoming a lawyer, studied at the University of Perugia. She funded her studies by working as a model thanks to a friend of her father. In 1988, she graced the covers of Vogue España and Elle France, photographed by Oliviero Toscani. A friend encouraged her to apply to Milanese modeling agencies during her studies. Monica Bellucci moved to one of Europe’s fashion hubs, Milan, where Elite Model Management spotted her and signed her in 1989. Her modeling work for Elite soon led her to travel, and she decided to leave university because of this. Bellucci would later say that a career in law would not have suited her. Model agent Piero Piazzi witnessed her beginnings and believed she could become an actress. Represented by Elite, she appeared in international ad campaigns, and the creators at Dolce & Gabbana, who were seeking Mediterranean beauty to embody their style, hired her up to 1990 to become their muse. Monica Bellucci is the Italian model that fashion brands compete to sign. In 1989, she lived in New York and was already a millionaire. She became a highly sought-after fashion model in Milan, Paris, and New York.

In 1997, she was immortalized by photographer Richard Avedon in the Pirelli calendar. She posed topless for the Max calendar in 1999, photographed by Fabrizio Ferri, and the following year she was the star of the GQ erotic calendar, photographed this time by Gian Paolo Barbieri.

She walked for Dolce & Gabbana, Fendi, and all the major brands in the world. She graced the covers of the French magazines Elle and Vogue, and also posed for Italian designer Alessandro Dell’Acqua and Blumarine. In 2003, again for Dolce & Gabbana, she posed for the Sicily fragrance. In November 2007, she became the face of Intimissimi and acted in the short film Heartango, directed by Gabriele Muccino. Also in 2007, she became the face of Cartier for the Delices jewelry line.

In 2008, fashion designer John Galliano, in collaboration with makeup artist Tyen, wanted her to highlight Rouge Dior, one of the flagship makeup products of the French house Dior. She was also the face of Dior for the bag and accessories line and, in 2010, posed as Eve for the advertisement of the Hypnotic Poison fragrance. Also in 2010, the actress was engaged by Martini and Dolce & Gabbana as the lead in a new TV spot (with a Fellini-like vibe) for the launch of the new Martini Gold aperitif, born from the collaboration between the two designers and the beverage brand. In 2012, again for Dolce & Gabbana, she shot the short film Three Days with Monica directed by Leandro Manuel Emede. In 2018, she was chosen by Nivea as ambassador for their skincare cream.

book in very good condition