Ivy Nicholson

Ivy Nicholson (February 22, 1933 – October 25, 2021) was an American model, painter, photographer, and actress. One of the leading fashion models of the 1950s, she worked extensively in Europe and appeared on the covers of major fashion magazines, including Elle France, Vogue Paris, British Vogue, and Harper's Bazaar. Known for her flamboyant personality, she became one of the era's most recognizable haute couture models.

While living in Rome, she worked as a fashion photographer and appeared in a few films alongside her modeling career. In the 1960s, she became associated with Pop artist Andy Warhol's Factory, where she emerged as one of his early superstars. Between 1964 and 1967, she appeared in several Screen Tests and experimental films, including Couch (1964), Batman Dracula (1964), Jonn and Ivy (1965), I, a Man (1967), and **** (Four Stars) (1967). Although her modeling career brought her international recognition, she later experienced financial hardship and periods of homelessness until her death in 2021.

Early life Nicholson was born into a working-class Irish family in Queens, New York on February 22, 1933. She left home as a teenager, settled in Greenwich Village, and found work in New York City's Garment District.

Career

Modeling career Nicholson began her modeling career at age 16 after winning a beauty contest held at a Brooklyn department store. According to Nicholson, she subsequently joined a cancan revue in Miami, where she met millionaire businessman Max Ausnit. According to her account, she secured her breakthrough after arriving at the offices of the French edition of Elle dressed in haute couture and claiming she was about to appear on the cover of Vogue.

By 1953, Nicholson had returned to New York and was signed to Ford modeling agency. Fashion historian Jean-Noël Liaut wrote that photographers and magazine editors tolerated her unconventional behavior because of her extraordinary photogenic qualities. Nicholson posed alongside Chagall's painting Le Soleil Rouge (1949). the August 24, 1953 issue, and the February 8, 1954 issue of Elle France. She was featured on the cover of the November 1953, October 1954, and February 1956 issues of Vogue Paris, photographed by Henry Clarke and Erwin Blumenfeld. She also appeared on the cover of the February 1956 issue of British Vogue, photographed by Norman Parkinson, the April 1958 issue of Harper's Bazaar, photographed by Louise Dahl-Wolfe, and the July 1961 issue of Harper's Bazaar, photographed by Richard Avedon. She graced the covers of French magazine's so frequently that in 1962 London's Daily Mail called her "one of France's most famous magazine girls." She remained in Italy, where by the following year she had appeared on more Italian magazine covers than any other model. While continuing her modeling career, Nicholson also began acting, appearing in the films Senso (1954), Un americano a Roma (1954), Le avventure di Giacomo Casanova (1955),

In 1954, director Howard Hawks became interested in Nicholson for the role of Princess Nellifer in his film Land of the Pharaohs (1955), and flew her out to Cairo in April for a screen test. During the test, Nicholson reportedly bit actor Jack Hawkins, causing a serious injury and angering the actor, who had agreed to participate as a favor to Hawks. Hawks subsequently cast actress Joan Collins for the role. Swanson wrote in her column for United Press that Nicholson "can draw," but was uncertain whether she could paint, observing that "her paintings are flat while her drawings have another dimension." "In those days models were mute and mysterious," Perkins later recalled. When questioned by the French press following the incident, Perkins said, "I am terribly disturbed. I hardly knew the girl. I never knew she had any thoughts about me." In May 1962, Nicholson told French newspapers, "I love him with all my heart, and I'm sure that he loves me, too." Nicholson later explained that Perkins had reminded her of a former high-school boyfriend who had died by suicide, which had contributed to her emotional distress. According to Nicholson, Holzer approached her and told her Warhol wanted her to appear in one of his films, and Nicholson accepted the invitation. Both children frequently accompanied her to Warhol's studio, the Factory, and appeared in some of his experimental films.

In 1965, she was the subject of a topless portrait by Salvador Dalí, and the two were photographed by Milton H. Greene for Life. In his memoir POPism: The Warhol '60s (1980), Warhol recalled:Louis Waldon came to the hospital the night of the shooting, all the girls in the waiting room rushed over to tell him he had to go home with Ivy and stay with her because she was saying that the moment I died, she was going to kill herself. Later he told Viva and Brigid, "I spent the whole night with her and those poor children of hers and she kept calling the hospital every ten seconds wanting to know if Andy had died yet so she could jump right out the window if he had. Finally, at six in the morning, they told her they thought he was going to make it, and I collapsed into bed." After several months living in a $34 per night hotel in San Francisco's Chinatown, where she caused $400 worth of damage, and failing to find work, she exhausted her savings and experienced homelessness. Impressed by her portfolio and distinctive bone structure, Ryter agreed to photograph her and helped her prepare for a return to modeling by arranging styling and promoting her work.

Nicholson made a film about herself, "The Dead Life," with her daughter Penelope, in 2005 and, a few years later released a CD, "Songs for Andy," recorded with her son Darius.

In April 1963, Nicholson was convicted in absentia by a French court of assaulting a flight attendant at Orly Airport in October 1961, as the attendant disembarked from a flight from Rome. Nicholson was fined 500 francs and ordered to pay an additional 2,000 francs in damages to the attendant. Nicholson said she had been tired and pregnant and carrying numerous packages when the attendant refused to help her, prompting her to strike the woman repeatedly with an umbrella. Nicholson remarked, "She's a lucky girl. It's nice work if you can get it—it works out at around $57 a knock, I reckon I hit her about 10 times."

Nicholson was engaged to Prince Giuseppe "Pepito" Pignatelli. Following the end of their engagement in 1956, Pignatelli was arrested on drug trafficking charges. Nicholson denied knowing anything about the case and left Rome. Their son Darius de Poleon was born in 1959, and the couple divorced that same year. She later had another son Sean Bolger, with Larry Shaw.

In 1963, Nicholson married filmmaker John Palmer. Together they had twins, Gunther Ethan Palmer and Penelope Palmer, born in November 1965.

Her eldest son, Darius de Poleon, later became guitarist for the European rock band Eurotrash. Her son Gunther Palmer appeared as a teenager in French television soap operas before pursuing poetry and music with the band Stagefright. Her daughter, Penelope Palmer, has appeared in several French films.

Death Nicholson died at the age of 88 on October 25, 2021, at an assisted living facility in Bellflower, California.