MFA Celebrates Mario Testino’s Retrospective

October 19, 2012 by J.T.

Guests at the opening of Mario Testino’s first U.S. show, which made its debut Wednesday at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, were happy to share their favorite memories of the photographer.

Gisele Bündchen, in a Halston dress and Tom Ford blazer, recalled Testino livening many shoots “You think, ‘Oh great, I look great, this is great and the next thing you know there is your butt on the cover of a magazine,’” the supermodel was referring to a 2008 V magazine cover involving a shredded pair of denim shorts. That shoot went viral when paparazzi descended on the private Malibu beach just as Gisele’s derriere was getting prepped for close-up.

“Mario Testino: In Your Face” features portraits spanning 30 years and will run until Feb. 3. Anna Wintour recalled being summoned to England to take over British Vogue and needing a passport photo for her son Charlie, then a few days old. She called Testino, who shot mother holding babe in arms.

Joan Smalls, in a two-piece Azzedine Alaïa look, described a shoot where Testino, having cast an international group of models, switched rapid-fire between English, Spanish, French and Italian.

After the opening reception, select guests gathered in the Koch gallery for a private dinner hosted by Stuart Weitzman.

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