Cecil Beaton
(1904-1980), Photographer, designer and writerSitter 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
Cecil Beaton in 'All the Vogue'
by Dorothy Wilding
half-plate glass negative, 1925
NPG x36718
by Dorothy Wilding
half-plate glass negative, 1925
NPG x36724
by Maurice Beck and Helen Macgregor
cream-toned vintage bromide print, 1927
NPG x40415
by Cecil Beaton
bromide print, October 1927
NPG x40409
by Curtis Moffat, and Olivia Wyndham
bromide print, circa 1928
NPG x20034
by Lafayette
whole-plate film negative, 14 June 1928
NPG x49751
by Lafayette
whole-plate film negative, 14 June 1928
NPG x49754
by Lafayette
whole-plate film negative, 14 June 1928
NPG x49755
by Curtis Moffat
bromide print, circa 1928
NPG x40414
by Curtis Moffat, and Olivia Wyndham
bromide print on card mount with green tint, circa 1928
NPG x30316
by Curtis Moffat, and Olivia Wyndham
bromide print on grey mount with red tint, circa 1928
NPG x30315
Cecil Beaton; Paula Gellibrand, Marquise de Casa Maury
by Cecil Beaton
halftone reproduction tear sheet, published 20 February 1929
NPG x193435
by Bert Longworth
vintage contact print from 10 x 8 inch negative, 1930s
NPG x40537
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