Pirelli Calendar

The first calendar in 1962 featured models from Pirelli’s key markets with images of tyres super-imposed on them! Pirelli’s UK subsidiary produced the calendar. It was almost just a ‘pin-up’ calendar but Robert Freeman, who photographed the Beatle’s ‘magical tours’, lifted it from mediocrity with his shots of models on the beaches of the Cote d’Azur.
The calendar is famous for its limited availability because it is not sold and is only given as a corporate gift to a restricted number of important Pirelli customers and celebrity VIPs. The Pirelli Calendar is perhaps the world's only prestigious and exclusive "girly" calendar, featuring pictures generally considered glamour photography including artistic nudes.
Publication was discontinued after the 1974 issue as an economising cut back in response to the world recession from the oil shock.Tyres were still featured in the 1984-1994 calendars, but the images of these products were always displayed discreetly. They were shown as a mark in the sand or as ruffles in a glamorous dress, for example. Once the calendar became more sophisticated, showing the product wasn’t necessary any more. It was resurrected 10 years later and has been published regularly since then.
Appearance on the calendar has become a mark of distinction for those photographic models that are chosen, as well as for the photographers commissioned to produce the images used. Over the years the supermodels and celebrities who have appeared have included Sienna Miller, Naomi Campbell, Eva Riccobono, Malgosia Bela, Gisele Bündchen, Emanuela de Paula, Sonny Freeman Drane, Kate Moss, Cindy Crawford, Selma Blair, Lauren Bush, Elsa Benitez, Laetitia Casta, Rachael Leigh Cook, Milla Jovovich, Doutzen Kroes, Heidi Klum, Sophia Loren, Penélope Cruz, Brittany Murphy, Amy Smart, Julia Stiles, Karolina Kurkova, Caroline Trentini, Raica Oliveira, Adriana Lima, Alessandra Ambrosio, Bridget Moynahan, Shannyn Sossamon, Mena Suvari, Monet Mazur, Aurelie Claudel, Fernanda Tavares, Isabeli Fontana, Frankie Rayder, Angela Lindvall, Hilary Swank and Yamila Díaz.

Photographers:

Robert Freeman (first calendar), Brian Duffy, Peter Knapp, Harry Peccinotti, Francis Giacobetti, Sarah Moon (first women photographer for Pirelli), Hans Feurer, Uwe Ommer, Norman Parkinson, Bert Stern, Terence Donovan, Barry Lategan, Joyce Tennyson, Arthur Elgort, Clive Arrowsmith, John Claridge, Herb Ritts, Richard Avedon, Peter Lindbergh, Bruce Weber, Annie Leibovitz, Mario Testino, Nick Knight, Patrick Demarchelier, Mert Alas and Marcus Piggot (The 2006 Pirelli calendar), Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin (The 2007 Pirelli calendar), Peter Beard, Terry Richardson, Karl Lagerfeld.

The 2007 Pirelli Calendar
 
Sophia Loren agreed to appear semi-naked for the  Pirelli Calendar at 72 her decision was controversial.


The 2009 Pirelli Calendar


Peter Beard, who photographed the calendar in 2009, described it as a ‘living sculpture’.  He photographed his models in the wild African landscape of Botswana which remains unspoiled and has a high concentration of wildlife.  The Kalahari outback and the Okavango River delta were used as backdrops to the free-spirited and natural look of the models. Beard has lived in Africa for thirty years.




The 2010 Pirelli Calendar


It was shot in Brazil by the provocative photographer, Terry Richardson, who seems to have brought an element of playfulness to the calendar with his photographs of models hosing themselves or eating bananas.


Pirelli Calendar Photos