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Cecil Beaton (1904-1980), Photographer, designer and writer

Sitter associated with 314 portraits
Artist associated with 1052 portraits
Born in Hampstead, Beaton became interested in photography as a young boy, inspired by postcards showing actresses of the period. His career as a portrait photographer took off after meeting the Sitwells in 1926. In 1927 he signed his first contract with Vogue, with which he was associated throughout his life. During the war he worked for the Ministry of Information, recording the war in Britain, the Middle and Far East. After the war he developed as a designer for stage, film, ballet and opera, working with Noel Coward and others. His most famous stage production was My Fair Lady (1956), the musical based on Shaw's Pygmalion. He was awarded two Oscars for the film version in 1965.

List Thumbnail

P219

Cecil Beaton

by Cecil Beaton
bromide print, 1927
NPG P219

6438

Cecil Beaton

by Anthony Wysard
pencil, ink and wash on board, 1930
NPG 6438

5306

Cecil Beaton

by Pavel Tchelitchew
gouache, 1934
NPG 5306

6137

Cecil Beaton

by Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent
pencil, chalk and wash, 1943
NPG 6137

P1294

Cecil Beaton

by Angus McBean
vintage bromide print, 1949
NPG P1294

P512(2)

Cecil Beaton

by Lewis Morley
bromide print, 1960
NPG P512(2)

P150(5)

Cecil Beaton

by Arnold Newman
bromide print, 1978
NPG P150(5)

x40653

Cecil Beaton

by Unknown photographer
bromide postcard print, 1906
NPG x40653

x126125

Reginald Beaton; Cecil Beaton; Etty Beaton

by Lallie Charles (née Charlotte Elizabeth Martin)
photogravure reproduction, 1908
NPG x126125

x40654

Cecil Beaton with his nanny Alice ('Ninnie') Collard

by Unknown photographer
vintage bromide print, circa 1908
NPG x40654

x40410

Cecil Beaton

by Unknown photographer
bromide print, 1910s
NPG x40410

x30310

Cecil Beaton

by Grigg
bromide print on tissue and card mount, circa 1920
NPG x30310

x30313

Cecil Beaton

by Hay Wrightson
sepia-toned bromide print on card and tissue mount, 1920s
NPG x30313

x30312

Cecil Beaton

by Lafayette (Lafayette Ltd)
bromide print on cream-toned paper, 1920s
NPG x30312

x30322

Cecil Beaton

by Peter North
cream-toned bromide print on page mount, 1920s
NPG x30322

x30323

Cecil Beaton

by Peter North
cream-toned bromide print on page mount, 1920s
NPG x30323

x30324

Cecil Beaton

by Peter North
cream-toned bromide print on page mount, 1920s
NPG x30324

x30325

Cecil Beaton

by Peter North
cream-toned bromide print on page mount, 1920s
NPG x30325

x30326

Cecil Beaton

by Peter North
cream-toned bromide print on page mount, 1920s
NPG x30326

x30327

Cecil Beaton

by Peter North
cream-toned bromide print on page mount, 1920s
NPG x30327

Links
All paintings by this artist on the BBC Your Paintings website
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