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British photographer David Hamilton dies in Paris, aged 83

Some French media reports suggest photographer, best known for nude images of young girls, killed himself having recently denied rape claims.

La rédaction de Mediapart

This article is freely available.

The controversial British photographer David Hamilton, best known for nude images of young girls, has died at his home in Paris at the age of 83, reports the BBC.

The circumstances of his death are unclear. Some media reports suggest he killed himself.

Hamilton had recently denied accusations that he had in the past raped some of his teenage models.

He made his name in the 1960s with soft-focus pictures of young girls published by major magazines.

The emergency services were called to his apartment in the French capital's 6th district (arrondissement) shortly after 20:30 local time (19:30 GMT), where he was found unresponsive.

Local media are reporting that prescription drugs were found nearby.

In a book published last month, prominent TV presenter Flavie Flament described being raped in the 1980s by a famous photographer, without giving a name.

In an interview with L'Obs weekly last week, Flament named Hamilton as her attacker. Other women then levelled similar accusations.

Hamilton, whose work has long raised questions about where art ends and pornography begins, strongly denied the allegations, and said he would sue for defamation.

Read more of this report from the BBC.