Jean Ward Patchett Auer (February 16, 1926 – January 22, 2002) was a leading American fashion model of the late 1940s, 1950s, and early 1960s. She was among the best known models of that era, which included

Dovima Dorothy Virginia Margaret Juba (December 11, 1927 – May 3, 1990), known professionally as Dovima, was an American supermodel during the 1950s. Biography Dovima was born Dorothy Virginia Margaret Juba in Queens, New York to Stanley Juba, a P ...

, Dorian Leigh, Suzy Parker, Evelyn Tripp and Lisa Fonssagrives. Patchett was the subject of two of Vogue Magazine's most famous covers, both shot in 1950 by Erwin Blumenfeld and

Irving Penn Irving Penn (June 16, 1917October 7, 2009) was an American photographer known for his fashion photography, portraits, and still lifes. Penn's career included work at ''Vogue'' magazine, and independent advertising work for clients including Is ...

. She was famous for being one of the first high-fashion models to appear remote; previously, models had appeared warm and friendly. Irving Penn described her as "a young American goddess in Paris couture". During her career, she appeared on over 40 magazine covers. Patchett modeled for brands including Bergdorf Goodman, Henri Bendel and Revlon.

Early life

Jean Ward Patchett was born on February 16, 1926 in Preston, Maryland to James Franklin Patchett (1891–1962), a World War I veteran and plumber, and Mary Ward Patchett (1891–1970), who were both originally from Delaware. She was the youngest of four children; she had two sisters, Dorothy Lee (1917–2006) and Elizabeth "Betty" (1922–1999), and a brother, James Franklin Patchett Jr. (1919–2002). She was of Scottish, Irish, English, and French ancestry. Patchett graduated from Preston High School in 1941. She attended secretarial school, studied voice at Peabody Institute, and attended Goucher College before deciding to become a model.

Career

She came to New York in 1948, and signed with the Ford Model Agency on May 10, 1948. Her career took off almost immediately. She debuted with '' Vogue'' in September 1948 at the age of 22. In October 1949, Patchett was photographed by Penn along with

Bridget Bate Tichenor Bridget Bate Tichenor (born Bridget Pamela Arkwright Bate) (November 22, 1917 – October 20, 1990) was a British surrealist painter of fantastic art in the school of magic realism and a fashion editor. Born in Paris, she later embraced Mexico a ...

for the famous photograph ''The Tarot Reader''. A print of this photograph is in the permanent collection of the

Smithsonian American Art Museum The Smithsonian American Art Museum (commonly known as SAAM, and formerly the National Museum of American Art) is a museum in Washington, D.C., part of the Smithsonian Institution. Together with its branch museum, the Renwick Gallery, SAAM holds o ...

.The Tarot Reader (Jean Patchett and Bridget Tichenor) - New York 1949 by Irving Penn SAAM
/ref> Patchett was the subject of two of Vogue Magazine's most famous covers, January 1950 by Erwin Blumenfeld and April 1950 by

. Cathy Horyn wrote that the January 1950 cover "became shorthand for an entire decade". During her career, she appeared on over 40 magazine covers. Patchett's face was used in the 1957 Fred Astaire-

Audrey Hepburn Audrey Hepburn (born Audrey Kathleen Ruston; 4 May 1929 – 20 January 1993) was a British actress and humanitarian. Recognised as both a film and fashion icon, she was ranked by the American Film Institute as the AFI's 100 Years...100 Stars, t ...

- Kay Thompson film, '' Funny Face'', which spoofed the fashion industry.

Personal life

Shortly after signing to Harry Conover's agency, Patchett began living in a Methodist rooming home for women. Patchett married Louis Auer, a Yale-educated banker in 1951. After 1962, they adopted two children named Bart and Amy.

Death

Jean Patchett Auer died on January 22, 2002 in La Quinta, California from emphysema. She is buried at Junior Order Cemetery in Preston, Maryland.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Patchett, Jean 1926 births 2002 deaths People from Caroline County, Maryland American female models Female models from Maryland 20th-century American women 20th-century American people