A Look back with Gabrielle von Canal

January 22, 2010 5:42 pm

by Damien Neva

A couple times per month we will be sitting down with models from decades past to look back on their modeling careers. With the help of Patty Sicular, of the Ford Models’ classic division, we will bring you the story of the models that made history with Ford Models. ‒ Ford Models Blog Editor

Model Gabrielle von Canal first met Eileen Ford in Paris in 1968 and the following year joined Ford Models in New York. The list of photographers with whom Gabrielle worked in her career is staggering. Amongst others they include Jean Paul Merzagora, Bill Silano, Alex Gotfryd, Helmut Newton, Neal Barr, Richard Avedon, Joel Baldwin, Richard Blinkoff, Hiro, Bob Krieger, Gideon Lewin, Gordon Munro, Irving Penn, Rico Puhlmann, Matthew Rolston, Bruce Laurence, Francesco Scavullo, Horst P. Horst, and Arthur Elgort.

Asked about some of the most interesting experiences in her modeling career Gabrielle mentioned traveling to Kathmandu for a shoot with Town & Country, being photographed by Helmut Newton in the Sahara, and all the photo shoots she did with Jean Paul Merzagora, whom she considers the greatest of photographers during the 1960s in Paris.

Gabrielle featured in many campaigns including Revlon, Oil of Olay, and Clairol as well as in editorials for Italian Harper’s Bazaar, Madame, Petra, Constanze, and Elle.

Today Gabrielle lives happily at lake Chapala, Mexico.

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Gabrielle von Canal
Photography: Richard Blinkoff
Gabrielle von Canal | Harper's Bazaar Italia
Photography: Bob Krieger
Gabrielle von Canal
Photography: Rico Puhlmann
Gabrielle von Canal
Gabrielle von Canal | Town & Country May 1978
Photography: Joel Baldwin
Gabrielle von Canal
Photography: Helmut Newton
Gabrielle von Canal
Photography: Jean Paul Merzagora
Gabrielle von Canal
Photography: Alex Gotfryd
Gabrielle von Canal
Photography: Bob Krieger
Gabrielle von Canal
Photography: Jean Paul Merzagora
Gabrielle von Canal
Photography: Jean Paul Merzagora
Gabrielle von Canal
Photography: Bob Krieger
Gabrielle von Canal
Photography: Bob Krieger
Gabrielle von Canal
Photography: Jean Paul Merzagora
Gabrielle von Canal
Photography: Jean Paul Merzagora

46 thoughts on “A Look back with Gabrielle von Canal”

Jon Rameses on January 22, 2010 at 6:24 pm said:

Absolutely Timless & Stunning…!

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Linda Morand on January 22, 2010 at 8:04 pm said:

Wonderful story and pictures. Thank you so much for this blog.

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sue charney on January 22, 2010 at 10:00 pm said:

wonderful memories of happy times in years gone by —–
thanks for the memories — hope there are more to come,,,,

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- liliana on January 24, 2010 at 10:10 pm said:
  
  thank you for taking care of me.
  liliana
  
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silvia on January 23, 2010 at 4:34 am said:

Gabrielle von Canal (Photography: Jean Paul Merzagora)reminds me of Heidi Klum.
At that time there was much more class and more soffisticated women-models.
Gabrielle von Canal is a real beauty.

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- Alexander von Canal (brother) on January 23, 2010 at 7:59 am said:
  
  …and she is still looking good!
  
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  - gabrielle von canal on January 23, 2010 at 3:24 pm said:
    
    thank you little fabulous brother !!
    
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Angelika Christie ND on January 23, 2010 at 10:20 am said:

This is stunning, and as good or better than what today’s super models produce.
I am so glad for you, my beautiful big sister that you are honored this way. Well deserved!

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- gabrielle von canal on January 23, 2010 at 3:26 pm said:
  
  thank you my lovely little sister for your compliment .
  but we know that inner beauty is more important !
  
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  - Annemarie Hofling on January 28, 2010 at 12:06 am said:
    
    Wunderschoene Fotos von Dir liebe Gabriele welche mir Birgit zuschickte. Aber nicht nur hast Du ausserliche Schoenheit aber dazu Karisma und gutherzigkeit was ich persoenlich kenne.
    Annemarie
    
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Gil von Canal (brother) on January 24, 2010 at 2:03 pm said:

The last words in the last song of the Beatles are:
And in the end, the love you take, is equal to the love you make.
You are so beautiful, inside and still outside.
I love you !!

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- gabrielle von canal on January 25, 2010 at 11:34 am said:
  
  how lucky can i get to have you in my life .
  
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Peter Marlowe on January 25, 2010 at 11:03 am said:

A beautiful woman from a golden age of modeling, when working in Paris with the greatest photographers, like Jean Paul Merzagora, made the profession of modeling the dream of exciting careers.

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dore hammond on January 25, 2010 at 11:45 am said:

Beautiful pictures! Thank you Gabrielle and Patty for a great blog.

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stan shaffer on January 25, 2010 at 11:50 am said:

Gabrielle..
I know i have some beautiful photos of you..
I must now find them…
Stan

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gabrielle von canal on January 25, 2010 at 1:57 pm said:

My beautiful friend is more beautiful today, inside and out. Love seeing some of her famous photos. We are so lucky to have her here in Ajijic making the town more beautiful. Of course Gary is looking pretty good as well. Pat

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Nancy Grigor on January 25, 2010 at 4:38 pm said:

Gabrielle, what a great show of photos….you have always been so beautiful, and I am so proud to know you and so happy that we worked together. It really is great to see how hard you worked over the years, and you are still working….how many models have lasted as long and looked so great for so long.
Congratulations….you are my inspiration! Keep up the great work!
Nancy

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- gabriellevc on March 9, 2010 at 3:24 pm said:
  
  hola Nancy,
  how are you beautiful !i am lucky to live in the sun . hope to see you again on my next new york visit .thank’s for the compliment .
  love gabrielle
  
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Patty on January 25, 2010 at 10:23 pm said:

Dear Gaby-lein,
What an honor it has been to have been one of your bookers…I still remember the very first booking we did together…It was for The New York Times Sunday Magazine… and they photographed you putting your lipstick on, while looking in a mirror…
I have always loved working with you !!! I miss not speaking to you each and every day, about 4pm to get your bookings and appointments for the next day.
Much Love,
x
Patty

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- gabrielle von canal on January 29, 2010 at 11:33 am said:
  
  yes my dearest ..i miss that too and having lunch with you . you have done a great job and thank you for such support and sending my blog to so many people who reply in such a nice way and i do not even know them .
  well i thank them all for their kind words .
  hope you are having a great vacation til febr 7th ?
  please come to visit ..anytime exept may this year .love you
  gabrielle / gabilein
  
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Juliette Branker on January 25, 2010 at 6:18 pm said:

What a BEAUTY. You are an inspiration for me. Your inner beauty has left lasting impressions on all who knew or worked with you. You are a tough act to follow but I will give it my best.

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Sir Terance White on January 26, 2010 at 1:03 am said:

WOW, such a great legacy…and such intelligent beauty! Love it!!!…and Gabrielle!!!
Sir T

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Allison Walton on January 29, 2010 at 8:35 am said:

A pleasure to see such artistic photos.

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Cece Girling on February 4, 2010 at 3:03 pm said:

so beautiful then….so beautiful now…and yes, inside and out. How lucky I have been to have you in my Fashion Show fund raisers for Red Cross here in Ajijic…Gabby you are an inspiration to many many women and I am happy to know you and spend time with you….Cece

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James Weis on February 8, 2010 at 1:44 pm said:

I have worked with Gabrielle for many years and she is one of the most beautiful faces (and personalities) I have ever painted and done hair on. Looking at this pictorial journey of such a wonderful career makes me smile a very warm and loving smile. One of the most beautiful women in the world!!!

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Patricia Doran on February 13, 2010 at 2:37 pm said:

Beautiful photos of my very beautiful friend, GAby. Aren’t we all so lucky to have you here in Ajijic; still so stunning but also generous and compassionate. Nice to read the comments, especially those from your brother.
Pat

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- gabrielle on February 25, 2010 at 2:37 pm said:
  
  thank’s Pat ! i wished i knew you when you worked at “Womens Wear Daily “but it’s special to have you as my friend today .
  love you
  Gabrielle
  
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gabrielle on February 25, 2010 at 2:34 pm said:

james ,hat wonderful compliment coming from you means a lot .
you did magic on me . thank you
. stay in touch
love gabrielle

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gabrielle on February 25, 2010 at 2:43 pm said:

thank’s Patty ,i did not know i still get friends to react to my blog
Gabrielle
ps : did you think that i should add a recent picture ?do you still have the recent pics for the macy’s job, that i e-mailed ?

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Susan McGraw Keber on February 27, 2010 at 12:51 pm said:

I remember all the editorials and ad campaigns and always I thought your bone structure and conveyance of elegance was superbly captured by each photographer…truly magnificent! Thank you Patty for bringing us the great beauties to us in retrospect…lovely!

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Rosana Hart on March 9, 2010 at 4:58 pm said:

Gabrielle, thank you so much for sending me this link. I’ve met Gary a couple of times and it was a pleasure to meet you by Lake Chapala this morning. As we walked and talked, I was struck by your zest for life, as well as by your beauty — and I see both things in these photos as well.

It looks to me like you have managed to have a tremendous amount of fun over the years!

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alon on July 29, 2010 at 11:16 pm said:

really nice pics maybe we meet again by chance while looking for a nice resteront in the street ;) galapagos

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- GABRIELLE on July 30, 2010 at 12:21 pm said:
  
  yes ,Alon ,i would love to run into you again sometime ,but you know where we are ..so take that destination one day …beautiful Mexico !!
  warm greetings to you .take care of yourself !
  Gabrielle
  
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Amy (Crook) Barbarossa on August 10, 2010 at 9:47 am said:

Hi Gabrielle. I remember you visiting our house when you were married to Charlie Conliffe. And swimming in your pool in Charlestown. I always had fond memories of you. My sister Rhonda and you were close. She’s doing very well, happily married with 2 grown kids in college. Hope you are well. From the youngest of the Crook girls. Amy

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- GABRIELLE on August 10, 2010 at 12:17 pm said:
  
  hola Amy ,
  my greetings to you and Rhonda from sunny Mexico.
  all is well with us too (gary and me )
  if you have a chance ,please send me a photo of you and Rhonda to my e-mail : gabriellevc@yahoo.com
  so i know what you look like today.
  take care
  Gabrielle
  
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Gil von Canal on September 15, 2010 at 6:09 pm said:

I`m so glad to see you in march 2011

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Bettina Kreitz on September 15, 2010 at 6:12 pm said:

Hallo, your brother Gil is a very fine man er ist wirklich wundervoll und du kannst stolz darauf sein ihn zu haben und er hat eine wunderschöne Schwester

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Luigi and Giulio on January 4, 2011 at 4:31 pm said:

Cara Gabriel,

thank you for sharing.
We are in our country house looking at your wonderful pictures, at the center of them a wonderful creature.

Looking foreword to meet you in Europe

Your acquerello will soon follow

ciao
Gigi

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GABRIELLE V.CANAL on January 4, 2011 at 6:13 pm said:

wish i was there .happy and healthy 2011 for you all . and thank you for being still my fans !!

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Carlo Poss on January 6, 2011 at 10:39 am said:

ciao Gabrielle, you are fantastic!
carlo

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Karen Britt on January 14, 2011 at 9:57 am said:

It is so wonderful to revisit this lovely and gracious beauty. I fondly remember many hours working in Neal Barr’s studio with her. How can you ever forget someone with so may talents and attributes – and in that gorgeous package! I am so happy to know that she is well and happy enjoying the sunshine.

Karen

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GABRIELLE V.CANAL on January 14, 2011 at 1:32 pm said:

thank you Karen..one of my best too at Neal’s studio.and you !

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Guyhart Patrick on April 20, 2011 at 5:12 am said:

Bonjour de Paris,

J’ai bien connu Jean-Paul Merzagora quand il était “model” dans une agence au 29, rue Tronchet à Paris, près de la Madeleine. Avant qu’il ne devienne un grand photographe entre 1969 et 1972, une carrière courte – 3 ans – puisqu’il se suicidera à Noël 1972.
Mes hommages admiratifs à l’une de ses inspiratrices préférées !

Patrick Guyhart

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gabrielle on April 20, 2011 at 5:06 pm said:

merci , Patrick.
je lui fais photograph ,installer son studio ,car je savais comme il avait le talent extraordinaire . j’etais aussi sa fiancee …mais il a fait une decision fatal pour tous qui l’aime.
Gabrielle

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- Guyhart Patrick on May 9, 2011 at 11:03 am said:
  
  Merci, Gabrielle, pour votre réponse que je ne lis qu’aujourd’hui.
  A Paris, quand je suis dans le quartier de La Madeleine, j’entre parfois dans l’immeuble où il y avait l’agence de mannequinat pour laquelle il travaillait avant de devenir photographe.
  Je ne me souviens plus où était son studio de photographe.
  Par contre je me souviens qu’il avait un bateau “L’Astrolabe” qui était basé à Saint-Malo en Bretagne.
  Je me souviens aussi d’avoir dîné avec lui à “La Coupole” à Montparnasse et d’avoir vu sa dernière expo à la FNAC-Wagram quelques semaines avant son suicide.
  Il est enterré dans un petit cimetière à Rothéneuf, près de Saint-Malo, près de son frère Roland.
  Revenez-vous parfois à Paris ? c’est toujours une belle ville !
  Patrick
  
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Angelika on April 22, 2011 at 2:55 pm said:

My beautiful sister…how I enjoyed visiting her in NYC and meeting so many nice people at the Ford Agency:-)

Without you there, sis, NYC is not quite the same for me.
But her house in Mexico is nice too.

When do you come for your Luxury Spa ( you always called it Geli’s Spa ) to Freeport, Bahamas in my townhouse?
It is always there for you and also available for friends and Models that need some wonderful rest and relaxation.

Have a look here:

http://youtu.be/HgdJUcvKetg

Much love,
Angelika (Geli)

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46 thoughts on “A Look back with Gabrielle von Canal”

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