Sir Frederick Ashton
(1904-1988), Ballet dancer; founder-choreographer and Director of the Royal BalletSir Frederick William Mallandaine Ashton
Sitter in 31 portraits
Ashton created his first ballet A Tragedy of Fashion in 1926. Choreographing several pieces for the Vic-Wells Ballet he joined the company in 1935. As resident choreographer, he worked with the young Fonteyn, who became his muse. Among his greatest ballets are Symphonic Variations (1946), Scènes de Ballet (1948), La Fille mal gardée (1960), The Dream (1964), and A Month in the Country (1976). Knighted in 1962, he became director of the company the following year. In 1970 he was made a Companion of Honour and awarded the Order of Merit in 1977. His later ballets include Five Brahms Waltzes in the Manner of Isadora Duncan (1979, created for Lynn Seymour) and Rhapsody (1980).
by Lee Miller
modern archival-toned gelatin silver print from original negative, 1933
NPG P1074
Sir Frederick Ashton; Ninette de Valois; Léonide Massine
by Angus McBean
bromide print, 1946
NPG P911
by Cecil Beaton
vintage bromide print on white card mount, 1950
NPG P869(2)
by Bern Schwartz
dye transfer print, 15 April 1977
NPG P1138
by Lord Snowdon
gelatin silver print, 19 June 1979
NPG P1847
by Austin Bennett
bronze head, 1985
NPG 5866
by Robert Heindel
oil on canvas, 1985
NPG 6189
by Gordon Anthony
modern bromide print from original negative, 1930s
NPG x44759
Sir Frederick Ashton; Harold Turner; Lydia Lopokova in 'The Masque of Beauty and Pleasure'
by Cecil Beaton
bromide print, 1930
NPG x40698
by Edward Malindine, for Daily Herald
modern bromide print from original negative, 2 December 1936
NPG x131124
Sir Frederick Ashton; Constant Lambert; Gerald Tyrwhitt-Wilson, 14th Baron Berners
by Unknown photographer
gelatin silver print, 1945
NPG x198420
John Piper; Sir Frederick Ashton; Benjamin Britten and Eric John Crozier
by Edward Mandinian
bromide contact print, 1947
NPG x15211
Members of the English Opera Group in Glyndebourne for the original production of 'Albert Herring'
possibly by Edward Mandinian
bromide print, 1947
NPG x15216
Eric John Crozier; Sir Frederick Ashton and John Piper
possibly by Edward Mandinian
bromide contact print, 1947
NPG x15215
Benjamin Britten and Sir Frederick Ashton
by Unknown photographer
bromide print, 1947
NPG x15217
Sir Frederick Ashton, Eric John Crozier, Benjamin Britten and Peter Pears
by Unknown photographer
bromide print, 1947
NPG x131141
Sir Frederick Ashton; Rudolf Nureyev
by Michael Peto
modern bromide print from original negative, February 1962
NPG x138053
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