There are thousands of songs, paintings, films out there all created by some of the most influential and successful artists. But their inspiration has to come from somewhere? Some are inspired by personal events or feelings, and some come from another person. Most artists are infatuated with this other person, so much that they discover the highlights and bring them to life in a way so that everybody else can see. Sooner or later every piece of art they create are focused on their "muse."
Coming from Greek mythology, muses were the goddesses of the inspiration of literature, science and the arts. From Alfred Hitchcocks obsession with Tippi Hedren to David Bailey's affair with Jean Shrimpton, here are some of the most famous artist's and their muse.
Andy Warhol and Edie Sedgwick
photo: pinterest.com
"I thought she was just magic and very imaginative."
In march 1965, Edie Sedgwick met Andy Warhol, an artist and avant garde filmmaker. Andy found Edie's background and beauty impressive, he decided to cast Edie into many of his short films. Edie became fascinating to mainstream media due to her unusual fashion sense, but her fame was long lived when she died from ethanol intoxication in 1971.
Alfred Hitchcock and Tippi Hedren
photo: pinterest.com
"He ruined my career, but he didn’t ruin my life. That time of my life was over. I still admire the man for who he was."
Tippi was a successful model in the 1950's and early 60's, and on the night of October 13th, 1961 she recieved a call from an agent who told her a producer was interested in working with her. That producer was Alfred Hitchcock, and Tippi signed a 7 year contract. Throughout their years together, their relationship caused too much controversy and Tippi admitted Alfred was too possessive. He was isolating her from others, advancing sexual aggression and controlled her career.
Bob Dylan and Suze Rotolo
photo: pinterest.com
"Right from the start I couldn’t take my eyes off her."
Suze Rotolo was 17 years old when she started dating Bob Dylan, and is reportadly said to be the inspiration behind many of Dylan's early love songs. She was best known for being photographed alongside him on his album cover "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan" in 1963.
Robert Mapplethorpe and Patti Smith
photo: pinterest.com
"The artist of my life."
Patti Smith and Robert Mapplethorpe created art together in a small New York apartment from 1967 to 1974. Robert being the photographer, used Patti as his model and created provocative pictures with nudity and sexuality. Their relationship struggled due to poverty and his sexuality.
George Harrison/Eric Clapton and Pattie Boyd
photo: pinterest.com
"I'd say I had the greatest passion and chemistry of my life with George. I think I was a romantic inspiration to Eric and George because I gave as much as I could to them both, to the detriment of myself. I was always there for them. Which I think is really what a muse is. You are living your life for somebody else."
Having met Pattie Boyd on the set of "A Hard Days Night", Beatle George Harrison fell instantly in love with her, even asking her to marry him whilst on set. The couple married in 1966, and Pattie became the inspiration to many songs such as 'For You Blue', 'It's All Too Much' and the most famous love song 'Something.' However in 1974, Pattie and George split, due to repeated infidelities. Years before the split however, Eric (friend of George's) fell deeply in love with Pattie, stalking and persisting her with letters and visits demanding she leave George. The song 'Layla' was wrote for Pattie as a sort of plea for her to leave her husband. Eventually in 1979, Pattie and Eric married but their marriage was filled with alcohol, drugs and physical abuse she divorced him in 1988. Without inspiring another two songs such as 'Wonderful Tonight' and 'Bell Bottom Blues.'
David Bailey and Jean Shrimpton
photo: pinterest.com
"She was magic and the camera loved her too. In a way she was the cheapest model in the world – you only needed to shoot half a roll of film and then you had it. She had the knack of having her hand in the right place, she knew where the light was, she was just a natural."
David Bailey helped create and capture 'Swinging London' with the help of model Jean Shrimpton in the 1960's. His photographs represented the youth of that era, in comparison to the boxy, stiff models in the 1950's. Bailey made Jean Shrimpton one of the world's first supermodels. Although Bailey was married to former girlfriend, he and Jean had an affair from 1960 - 1964. Jean often states she owes Bailey her career, as he discovered her and influenced her.
