Simon Procter "Death of a Painter" Christian Dior Haute Couture

Last summer the friend of the international photographer Simon Procter, Rolande, an aged but still very wild paintress died.

The family of Rolande agreed to open her studios one last time before all was cleared away.

Simon Procter with help from his friends at Christian Dior Couture and his paris creative team shot in this extraordinary space.

The young french model Pauline Serreau was given the daunting task of embodying the dead artist.

The following image,are a unique example of life, art and death interpreted through contemporary fashion photography.

Photographer Simon Procter

Stylist Donnatella Musco

Model Pauline Serreau @ elite

Make up Ismael Blanco

Hair Marc Orsatelli

The article in bloom magazine is accompanied by the personal text;

"We found dear Rolande the painter dead today. She lived just beneath my studio a mysterious recluse, when i first came to this place i only ever heard her, then she appeared one day,just like in a a fairytale. She had the head of a cat and was permanently shrouded in cigarette smoke. She came to tell me my footfalls were almost silent and she much appreciated i didn't wear shoes, then disappeared. The second time I saw her i enticed her with vodka , she liked vodka and told me my brand was wholly acceptable but not the best. She declared she was "sauvage" and then disappeared and we were friends.

Much later the strangest of things her friendship with my 5 year old daughter. I would sometime watch them from the window as they talked together. 80 years of life between them. Brune earnestly explaining birthday cakes and butterfly masks and Rolande discussing cats and sauvagery and the liberty of beasts. 

The last time i saw her she told me of her boat. Henri was her dead husband they had had a magnificent sailing boat , together they voyaged all over spain and greece. She told me once of a great storm that had come in fast and how they were afraid but had survived. She told me that they had planned to sail to egypt but there was some reason i didn't understand and they had never got there.

Xavier bravely climbed through the upper window and peered down through the trapdoor, he saw her body that had been there for many days, and then the forces of order descended and asked us all such ordinary questions, and the dream was over."
Simon Procter , Paris August 2010