Virgil Apger Portrait Photography
American, 1903-1994
Virgil Apger (1903-1994)
Virgil Apger was born in Indiana on June 25, 1903. Apger interest in photography began when he was a child in Goodland, Idaho. His father, the local sheriff, took photographs of the town's criminals. In 1929 his brother-in-law, Eugene Robert Richee, who was head of the portrait gallery at Paramount, hired Apger as his assistant. Apger developed Richee's negatives, worked with the dryers, and made prints.
He assisted Richee for a time and then went to work for MGM in 1931 doing the same thing Richee had done for years. He was an assistant to Clarence Sinclair Bull for awhile. Soon Jean Harlow gave Apger his start as a production still photographer by requested him to shoot photos on "China Seas" (1935). He had already worked for the publicity department. From then on he shot the stills on all her films. "Doing stills was invaluable training for gallery work," Apger explained.
Apger's enthusiasm on the set made him extremely popular with the stars, and Greer Garson, whose films he worked on, requested him for her portait photographer.
He is noteworthy in Oscar history as well for being the only photographer to receive an Academy Award for "Mrs. Miniver" in 1942 for Best Production Still.
Later, he was put in charge of the portrait gallery in 1947 for MGM, superseding C. S. Bull in that department and for the next 20 years he shot all of their stars: Esther Williams, Clark Gable, Lana Turner, Greer Garson, Judy Garland, Robert Taylor, Joan Crawford, Barbara Stanwyck, Kay Kendall, Stewart Granger, Ava Gardner, Grace Kelly and Elizabeth Taylor. Between 1948 and 1952, Apger had the distiction of having more magazine covers--among them, Life, Look and Photoplay--than all of the other photographers at all of the other studios combined.
He had a long career photographing stars on the set of great classics and as a portrait photographer, photographing many sexy shots of Ava Gardner in fishnet stockings and leotards. Gardner was one of his favorite subjects. Their work together is comparable to that of Hurrell's work with Crawford or that of Bull's work with Garbo but with more sexuality, glamour and a friendly sort of approachability.
Some of the many films he did still photography for are: "Spinout", "Bells Are Ringing", "That Forsyte Woman," "Julia Misbehaves", "A Date with Judy", "Homecoming", "Eyes in the Night," and the all time classic favorite, "The Wizard of Oz."
He also took photos of Debbie Reynolds, Bette Davis, Marlon Brando, Arlene Dahl, Ann Blyth, Ginger Rogers, Judy Garland, Ingrid Bergman, Cary Grant, and the Marx Brothers among others.
When Apger retired from his job as MGM's gallery portrait photographer in 1969, he had been there for 40 years. For twenty of those years he was the only gallery photographer on the lot.
He died at the ripe old age of 90 in San Diego, California on May 19, 1994.to
1
1
Overall Width
to
Overall Height
to
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2,422
1,900
725
298
1
1
Artist: Virgil Apger
Marilyn Monroe Monkey business
By Virgil Apger
Located in CANNES, FR
EKtachrome Vintage 1953 .20x15cm
Category
1950s Modern Virgil Apger Portrait Photography
Materials
Photographic Film
Related Items
Untitled Portrait
By Seydou Keïta
Located in New York, NY
Listing includes framing with UV Plexi ($900 value), free shipping, and a 14-day return policy.
Seydou Keïta
Untitled Portrait, 1952 - 1955 (02158)
23...
Category
1950s Virgil Apger Portrait Photography
Materials
Photographic Film, Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin
Marc Chagall, France, Contemporary French Photographic Portrait of Artist
By Jean-Michel Voge
Located in New york, NY
Marc Chagall in His Studio, France, 1984 by Jean-Michel Voge is a 23.4" x 16.5" archival pigment print edition 2/5 printed by the artist on Japanese Awagami handmade paper -- signed ...
Category
1980s Contemporary Virgil Apger Portrait Photography
Materials
Photographic Film, Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Rag Paper, Digital, Arc...
England, UK, London, Black and White Photo '60s Pop Star and Her Agent, Twiggy
By Burt Glinn
Located in New york, NY
Twiggy with her Manager, 1966 by Burt Glinn is a 10" x 8" gelatin silver press print from the 1960s. Magnum stamps from the period on verso (back of photo).
Top Model Twiggy and her...
Category
1960s Contemporary Virgil Apger Portrait Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin, Photographic Film
Emily - Signed limited edition sensual fine art photo, Contemporary, Model
By Ian Sanderson
Located in Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona
An original signed archival pigment print on Hahnemühle Photo Rag® Baryta 315 gsm paper by Scottish artist Ian Sanderson (1951- 2020) titled ‘ Emily ‘ who was captured on film in 19...
Category
1990s Contemporary Virgil Apger Portrait Photography
Materials
Photographic Film, Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, Black and White, ...
H 29.53 in W 21.42 in D 0.08 in
China girl- Intimate signed limited edition sensual fine art print, Contemporary
By Ian Sanderson
Located in Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona
China girl - Signed limited edition archival pigment print - Edition of 8
This image was captured on film in 1999.
The negative was scanned creating a digital file which was t...
Category
1990s Contemporary Virgil Apger Portrait Photography
Materials
Photographic Film, Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, Black and White, ...
H 29.53 in W 21.66 in D 0.08 in
Zarina - Signed limited edition nude art print, Black white photo, Sensual Model
By Ian Sanderson
Located in Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona
Zarina - Limited edition archival pigment print, 1987 - Edition of 5
This image was captured on film. The negative was scanned creating a digital file which is then printed...
Category
1980s Contemporary Virgil Apger Portrait Photography
Materials
Photographic Film, Archival Paper, Black and White, Giclée, Pigment, Arc...
H 29.53 in W 21.66 in D 0.08 in
"Marilyn Monroe, Roll 2, Frame 2"
By Lawrence Schiller
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Lawrence Schiller
"Marilyn Monroe - Roll 2 Frame 2"
1962; Photograph
20 x 24 inches
Edition of 75
Black and White
Framed
Category
1960s Realist Virgil Apger Portrait Photography
Materials
Photographic Film
Provence, Le Café de France, Iconic French Black and White Photograph 1970s
By Willy Ronis
Located in New york, NY
Interested in “ordinary people with ordinary lives,” photographer Willy Ronis among the postwar French photographers spent his career roaming the streets of Paris, photographing people in love, at work, and at play.
Le Café de France...
Category
1970s Contemporary Virgil Apger Portrait Photography
Materials
Photographic Film, Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin
Elizabeth Taylor, B & W Photograph of Glam Hollywood Star on the Beach 1950s
By Burt Glinn
Located in New york, NY
Elizabeth Taylor, 1959 by Burt Glinn is a black-and-white photograph shot on film a portrait of Elizabeth Taylor on the beach during the filming of the adaptation of Tennessee Willia...
Category
1950s Contemporary Virgil Apger Portrait Photography
Materials
Photographic Film, Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin
Emily - Signed limited edition print, Contemporary, Vintage Eighties style, Sexy
By Ian Sanderson
Located in Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona
An original signed archival pigment print on Hahnemühle Photo Rag® Baryta 315 gsm paper by Scottish artist Ian Sanderson (1951- 2020) titled ‘ Emily ‘ who was captured on film in 19...
Category
1990s Contemporary Virgil Apger Portrait Photography
Materials
Photographic Film, Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, Black and White, ...
H 19.69 in W 14.3 in D 0.08 in
Figurative photo, Portrait, Animal, Romantic couple, Contemporary print - Banya
By Ian Sanderson
Located in Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona
Banya - Signed limited edition archival pigment print - Edition of 2/5
A Basset Hound with her friend in a French café
This image was captured on film in 1998.
The negative w...
Category
1990s Contemporary Virgil Apger Portrait Photography
Materials
Photographic Film, Archival Paper, Black and White, Giclée, Pigment, Arc...
H 13.78 in W 18.9 in D 0.08 in
Paul and Linda McCartney
By Henry Diltz
Located in Missouri, MO
Paul and Linda McCartney, 1971
Henry Diltz (American, b. 1938)
Photo Print
17 x 11 inches (image)
20 x 16 inches (overall)
Hand-signed Lower Right
Titled and Dated Lower Center
Numbe...
Category
1970s American Modern Virgil Apger Portrait Photography
Materials
Photographic Film, Color
Virgil Apger portrait photography for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a wide variety of authentic Virgil Apger portrait photography available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Virgil Apger in film, photographic film and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 1950s and is mostly associated with the modern style. Not every interior allows for large Virgil Apger portrait photography, so small editions measuring 8 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Ed Feingersh, Ron Galella, and Ted Allan. Virgil Apger portrait photography prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $1,215 and tops out at $1,215, while the average work can sell for $1,215.