<div data-testid="main-content" id="main-content"><article><header></header><div data-component="image-block"><figure><p><span><picture><source srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/89BD/production/_131516253_94ee39e04c85f9c4dcd5dcbee830234f630bedad-1.jpg.webp 240w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/89BD/production/_131516253_94ee39e04c85f9c4dcd5dcbee830234f630bedad-1.jpg.webp 320w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/89BD/production/_131516253_94ee39e04c85f9c4dcd5dcbee830234f630bedad-1.jpg.webp 480w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/89BD/production/_131516253_94ee39e04c85f9c4dcd5dcbee830234f630bedad-1.jpg.webp 624w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/89BD/production/_131516253_94ee39e04c85f9c4dcd5dcbee830234f630bedad-1.jpg.webp 800w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/89BD/production/_131516253_94ee39e04c85f9c4dcd5dcbee830234f630bedad-1.jpg.webp 976w" type="image/webp"></source><img alt="A black and white image of Chet Baker holding a trumpet in New York City in 1956." height="549" loading="eager" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/549/cpsprodpb/89BD/production/_131516253_94ee39e04c85f9c4dcd5dcbee830234f630bedad-1.jpg" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/89BD/production/_131516253_94ee39e04c85f9c4dcd5dcbee830234f630bedad-1.jpg 240w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/89BD/production/_131516253_94ee39e04c85f9c4dcd5dcbee830234f630bedad-1.jpg 320w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/89BD/production/_131516253_94ee39e04c85f9c4dcd5dcbee830234f630bedad-1.jpg 480w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/89BD/production/_131516253_94ee39e04c85f9c4dcd5dcbee830234f630bedad-1.jpg 624w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/89BD/production/_131516253_94ee39e04c85f9c4dcd5dcbee830234f630bedad-1.jpg 800w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/89BD/production/_131516253_94ee39e04c85f9c4dcd5dcbee830234f630bedad-1.jpg 976w" width="549"></img></picture></span><span role="text"><span>Image source, </span>Herman Leonard Photography</span></p><figcaption><span>Image caption, </span><p>Famous jazz musician Chet Baker will be among the celebrities to feature in Fragile Beauty</p></figcaption></figure></div><div data-component="byline-block"><div><div><div><p>By Liz Jackson &amp; PA Media</p><p>BBC News</p></div></div></div></div><div data-component="text-block"><p><b>Photographs from Elton John and David Furnish's private collection are due to go on display at the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&amp;A) next year.</b></p></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>Fragile Beauty will span from the 1950s to today and include portraits of jazz musicians Miles Davis and Chet Baker, and actress Marilyn Monroe.</p></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>The exhibition will also feature historic moments from the civil rights movement to Aids activism.</p></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>More than 300 prints from at least 140 photographers will be on show.</p></div><div data-component="text-block"><div><p>The news follows a "significant" donation to the museum from Sir Elton in 2019, <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-47947885">which led to the V&amp;A renaming one of its galleries</a> after the singer and his filmmaker husband.</p></div></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>For this exhibition, curators have created eight thematic sections covering fashion, celebrity, the male body and American photography - with the show is set to be the largest temporary photography exhibition in the V&amp;A's history.</p></div><div data-component="image-block"><figure><p><span><span></span></span><span role="text"><span>Image source, </span>PA Media</span></p><figcaption><span>Image caption, </span><p>The couple said the exhibition would take their collaboration with the museum "to really exciting new heights"</p></figcaption></figure></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>In a statement Sir Elton and Furnish said: "Since we first loaned a selection of Horst photographs to the V&amp;A in 2014, our relationship with the museum has grown significantly.</p></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>"Fragile Beauty takes our collaboration to really exciting new heights, showcasing some of the most beloved photographers and iconic images from within our collection.</p></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>"We look forward to sharing this exhibition with the public."</p></div><div data-component="image-block"><figure><p><span><span></span></span><span role="text"><span>Image source, </span>Herb Ritts Foundation</span></p><figcaption><span>Image caption, </span><p>Fashion is one of eight topics explored in the showcase</p></figcaption></figure></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>The exhibition is being curated by Duncan Forbes, the V&amp;A's head of photography, as well as Newell Harbin, director of The Sir Elton John Photography Collection, and Lydia Caston, the V&amp;A's exhibition project curator.</p></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>Mr Forbes said: "We are delighted to be working with Sir Elton John and David Furnish to present highlights from their unparalleled collection: from the playful and surprising, to the contemplative and thoughtful.</p></div><div data-component="image-block"><figure><p><span><span></span></span><span role="text"><span>Image source, </span>Magnum Photos/PA Media</span></p><figcaption><span>Image caption, </span><p>A portrait of civil rights leader Malcolm X will be among the photos exhibited</p></figcaption></figure></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>"Fragile Beauty will be a truly epic journey across the recent history of photography, and a celebration of Sir Elton John and David Furnish's passion for the medium."</p></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>Fragile Beauty: Photographs from the Sir Elton John and David Furnish Collection in partnership with Gucci will run from 18 May 2024 to 5 January 2025.</p></div><div data-component="text-block"><p><i>All images are subject to copyright. </i></p></div><div data-component="text-block"><div><p>Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/curation/p0cjdwm5">Sounds</a> and follow BBC London on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BBCLondon">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/BBCLondonNews">X</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/bbclondon/?hl=en">Instagram</a>. 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