Elisabeth Welch (1904-2003), Singer
Sitter in 18 portraits
Born in New York, she made her Broadway debut in 1922 but left America to work in Paris in 1929. There met Cole Porter who invited her to appear in his musical Nymph Errant (1933) in London. Settled in England, becoming one of the great divas of the stage musical and further endearing herself to British audiences in the BBC Radio series Soft Lights and Sweet Music during the 1930s. Also appeared in numerous films including Around the Town (1938), Over the Moon (1937) This was Paris (1942) and Fiddlers Three (1944). In her final screen appearance, dressed in gold, she delivered the torch song Stormy Weather in Derek Jarman's adaptation of The Tempest.
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- Larger Image
- Recent Acquisition
by Carl Van Vechten
cream-toned bromide print, 14 January 1933
On display in Room 31 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG x131693
- Larger Image
- Recent Acquisition
by Carl Van Vechten
cream-toned bromide print, 14 January 1933
On display in Room 31 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG x131694
- Larger Image
- Recent Acquisition
by Carl Van Vechten
cream-toned bromide print, 14 January 1933
On display in Room 31 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG x131695
- Larger Image
- Recent Acquisition
by Humphrey Spender
bromide print on card mount, June 1933
NPG x131702
- Larger Image
- Recent Acquisition
by Cannons of Hollywood
cream-toned bromide print, 1934
On display in Room 31 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG x131703
- Larger Image
- Recent Acquisition
by Paul Tanqueray
cream-toned bromide print on photographer's card mount, 1935
On display in Room 31 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG x131689
- Larger Image
- Recent Acquisition
by Paul Tanqueray
cream-toned bromide print on photographer's card mount, 1935
On display in Room 31 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG x131690
- Larger Image
- Recent Acquisition
by Paul Tanqueray
cream-toned bromide print on photographer's card mount, 1935
NPG x131691
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