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Cecil Beaton

(1904-1980), Photographer, designer and writer

Sitter associated with 360 portraits
Artist associated with 1114 portraits
Cecil Beaton was one of the leading British photographers of the twentieth century. Beaton's early studio portraits of debutantes and celebrities often involved elaborate theatrical backdrops, and helped define the image of the 'Bright young thing'. Beaton was also an acclaimed designer for film and the stage, including My Fair Lady (1956), the musical based on George Bernard Shaw's play Pygmalion. He won three Oscars for costume and art direction for the film version of My Fair Lady (1965) and for Gigi (1958). A major retrospective of Beaton's portraits in 1968 was the first exhibition the National Portrait Gallery had devoted to a photographer.

More on Beaton: Cecil Beaton's Bright Young Things

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Cecil Beaton, by Cecil Beaton - NPG x134480

Cecil Beaton

by Cecil Beaton
bromide contact print, 1940s
NPG x134480

Cecil Beaton, by Derek Adkins - NPG x40439

Cecil Beaton

by Derek Adkins
matte bromide print, 1940s
NPG x40439

Cecil Beaton, by Derek Adkins - NPG x40440

Cecil Beaton

by Derek Adkins
vintage bromide print, 1940s
NPG x40440

Cecil Beaton, by Derek Adkins - NPG x40441

Cecil Beaton

by Derek Adkins
vintage bromide print, 1940s
NPG x40441

Cecil Beaton, by Cecil Beaton - NPG x40534

Cecil Beaton

by Cecil Beaton
vintage bromide print, 15 May 1942
NPG x40534

Cecil Beaton, by Cecil Beaton - NPG x40416

Cecil Beaton

by Cecil Beaton
bromide print, 12 February 1943
NPG x40416

Cecil Beaton, by John Rawlings - NPG x40471

Cecil Beaton

by John Rawlings
bromide silver print, 14 September 1944
NPG x40471

Cecil Beaton, by John Rawlings - NPG x40472

Cecil Beaton

by John Rawlings
bromide print, 14 September 1944
NPG x40472

Gordon Grimsdale; Cecil Beaton, by Cecil Beaton - NPG x40697

Gordon Grimsdale; Cecil Beaton

by Cecil Beaton
bromide print, 1944
NPG x40697

Cecil Beaton, by Francis Goodman - NPG Ax39598

Cecil Beaton

by Francis Goodman
bromide contact print, 28 November 1945
NPG Ax39598

Cecil Beaton, by Francis Goodman - NPG Ax39599

Cecil Beaton

by Francis Goodman
bromide contact print, 28 November 1945
NPG Ax39599

Cecil Beaton, by Francis Goodman - NPG Ax39600

Cecil Beaton

by Francis Goodman
bromide contact print, 28 November 1945
NPG Ax39600

Cecil Beaton, by Francis Goodman - NPG Ax39601

Cecil Beaton

by Francis Goodman
bromide contact print, 28 November 1945
NPG Ax39601

Cecil Beaton, by Francis Goodman - NPG Ax39602

Cecil Beaton

by Francis Goodman
bromide contact print, 28 November 1945
NPG Ax39602

Cecil Beaton, by Francis Goodman - NPG Ax39603

Cecil Beaton

by Francis Goodman
bromide contact print, 28 November 1945
NPG Ax39603

Cecil Beaton, by Francis Goodman - NPG Ax39605

Cecil Beaton

by Francis Goodman
bromide contact print, 28 November 1945
NPG Ax39605

Cecil Beaton, by Francis Goodman - NPG x68802

Cecil Beaton

by Francis Goodman
2 1/4 inch square film negative, 28 November 1945
NPG x68802

Cecil Beaton, by Francis Goodman - NPG x68803

Cecil Beaton

by Francis Goodman
2 1/4 inch square film negative, 28 November 1945
NPG x68803

Cecil Beaton, by Francis Goodman - NPG Ax39604

Cecil Beaton

by Francis Goodman
bromide contact print, 28 November 1945
NPG Ax39604

Cecil Beaton, by Francis Goodman - NPG x39445

Cecil Beaton

by Francis Goodman
2 1/4 inch square film negative, 28 November 1945
NPG x39445

Cecil Beaton, by Cecil Beaton - NPG x40417

Cecil Beaton

by Cecil Beaton
vintage bromide print, 12 September 1945
NPG x40417

Cecil Beaton, by Graphic Photo Union - NPG x182376

Cecil Beaton

by Graphic Photo Union
bromide press print, circa 1946
NPG x182376

On the set of 'Lady Windermere's Fan', by Cecil Beaton - NPG x40649

On the set of 'Lady Windermere's Fan'

by Cecil Beaton
10 x 8 inch colour film transparency, 1946
NPG x40649

Cecil Beaton as Cecil Graham in 'Lady Windermere's Fan', by Cecil Beaton - NPG x40651

Cecil Beaton as Cecil Graham in 'Lady Windermere's Fan'

by Cecil Beaton
10 x 8 inch colour film transparency, 1946
NPG x40651

Cecil Beaton, by Cecil Beaton - NPG x40675

Cecil Beaton

by Cecil Beaton
bromide print, September 1946
NPG x40675

Cecil Beaton; Dorian Leigh, by Irving Penn - NPG x40470

Cecil Beaton; Dorian Leigh

by Irving Penn
bromide silver print, 1947
NPG x40470

Cecil Beaton; Youly Algaroff, by Keystone Press Agency Ltd - NPG x184195

Cecil Beaton; Youly Algaroff

by Keystone Press Agency Ltd
bromide press print, 15 November 1949
NPG x184195

Cecil Beaton, by (Edward) Russell Westwood - NPG x68263

Cecil Beaton

by (Edward) Russell Westwood
cibachrome print from original transparency, 1950s
NPG x68263

Cecil Beaton, by (Edward) Russell Westwood - NPG x68264

Cecil Beaton

by (Edward) Russell Westwood
cibachrome print from original transparency, 1950s
NPG x68264

Cecil Beaton, by Cecil Beaton - NPG x40528

Cecil Beaton

by Cecil Beaton
bromide print, 1950s
NPG x40528

Cecil Beaton, by Cecil Davis - NPG x40478

Cecil Beaton

by Cecil Davis
glossy bromide print, 1950s
NPG x40478

Cecil Beaton, by F.R. Winstone - NPG x40498

Cecil Beaton

by F.R. Winstone
bromide print, 11 June 1950
NPG x40498

Cecil Beaton, by Cecil Beaton - NPG x40990

Cecil Beaton

by Cecil Beaton
10 x 8 inch bromide contact print, 1951
NPG x40990

Greta Garbo; Cecil Beaton, by Fox Photos Ltd - NPG x40457

Greta Garbo; Cecil Beaton

by Fox Photos Ltd
bromide press print, 1951
NPG x40457

Cecil Beaton, by Irving Penn - NPG x40469

Cecil Beaton

by Irving Penn
glossy unglazed bromide silver print, 1951
NPG x40469

Cecil Beaton, by Paul Tanqueray - NPG x138300

Cecil Beaton

by Paul Tanqueray
quarter-plate film negative, 1952
NPG x138300

Cecil Beaton, by Paul Tanqueray - NPG x138301

Cecil Beaton

by Paul Tanqueray
quarter-plate film negative, 1952
NPG x138301

Cecil Beaton, by Paul Tanqueray - NPG x138302

Cecil Beaton

by Paul Tanqueray
quarter-plate film negative, 1952
NPG x138302

Cecil Beaton, by Paul Tanqueray - NPG x138304

Cecil Beaton

by Paul Tanqueray
quarter-plate film negative, 1952
NPG x138304

Cecil Beaton, by Paul Tanqueray - NPG x138305

Cecil Beaton

by Paul Tanqueray
quarter-plate film negative, 1952
NPG x138305

Cecil Beaton, by Paul Tanqueray - NPG x138306

Cecil Beaton

by Paul Tanqueray
quarter-plate film negative, 1952
NPG x138306

Cecil Beaton, by Paul Tanqueray - NPG x138307

Cecil Beaton

by Paul Tanqueray
quarter-plate film negative, 1952
NPG x138307

Cecil Beaton, by Paul Tanqueray - NPG x138308

Cecil Beaton

by Paul Tanqueray
quarter-plate film negative, 1952
NPG x138308

Cecil Beaton, by Paul Tanqueray - NPG x138309

Cecil Beaton

by Paul Tanqueray
quarter-plate film negative, 1952
NPG x138309

Cecil Beaton, by Paul Tanqueray - NPG x138310

Cecil Beaton

by Paul Tanqueray
quarter-plate film negative, 1952
NPG x138310

Cecil Beaton, by Paul Tanqueray - NPG x138311

Cecil Beaton

by Paul Tanqueray
quarter-plate film negative, 1952
NPG x138311

Cecil Beaton, by Paul Tanqueray - NPG x138312

Cecil Beaton

by Paul Tanqueray
quarter-plate film negative, 1952
NPG x138312

Cecil Beaton, by Paul Tanqueray - NPG x138313

Cecil Beaton

by Paul Tanqueray
quarter-plate film negative, 1952
NPG x138313

Cecil Beaton, by Paul Tanqueray - NPG x138314

Cecil Beaton

by Paul Tanqueray
quarter-plate film negative, 1952
NPG x138314

Cecil Beaton, by Paul Tanqueray - NPG x138315

Cecil Beaton

by Paul Tanqueray
quarter-plate film negative, 1952
NPG x138315

Cecil Beaton, by Paul Tanqueray - NPG x138319

Cecil Beaton

by Paul Tanqueray
quarter-plate film negative, 1952
NPG x138319

Cecil Beaton, by Paul Tanqueray - NPG x138316

Cecil Beaton

by Paul Tanqueray
quarter-plate film negative, 1952
NPG x138316

Cecil Beaton, by Paul Tanqueray - NPG x138317

Cecil Beaton

by Paul Tanqueray
quarter-plate film negative, 1952
NPG x138317

Cecil Beaton, by Paul Tanqueray - NPG x138318

Cecil Beaton

by Paul Tanqueray
quarter-plate film negative, 1952
NPG x138318

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