Queen Elizabeth II; Cecil Beaton
1 portrait of Queen Elizabeth II
© Cecil Beaton / Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Queen Elizabeth II; Cecil Beaton
by Unknown photographer
10 x 8 inch colour film transparency, 1955
Accepted in lieu of tax by H.M. Government and allocated to the Gallery, 1991
Photographs Collection
NPG x40655
Sittersback to top
- Cecil Beaton (1904-1980), Photographer, designer and writer. Sitter associated with 360 portraits, Artist or producer associated with 1114 portraits.
- Queen Elizabeth II (1926-2022), Reigned 1952-2022. Sitter associated with 972 portraits.
Artistback to top
- Unknown photographer, Photographer. Artist or producer associated with 6585 portraits.
Linked publicationsback to top
- Moorhouse, Paul and Cannadine, David (appreciation), The Queen: Art and Image, 2011 (accompanying the exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery from 17 May to 21 October 2012), p. 67 Read entry
Beaton portrayed the royal family on numerous occasions, the Queen and Queen Mother being frequent sitters. Beaton did not seek to impress with bravura technical effects but relied instead on carefully creating a compelling relationship between the sitter and the setting. This photograph captures Beaton at work, arranging the Queen's pose for the image he is creating.
Subjects & Themesback to top
Events of 1955back to top
Current affairs
Robert Anthony Eden becomes prime minister. In May 1955 Winston Churchill resigned due to ill health. His successor proved to be a similarly popular leader, winning an increased majority at the general election that year. Eden's popularity was due to a combination of his long wartime service, good looks and charm.Art and science
Mary Quant introduces the 'Chelsea Look' with her Bazaar boutique. In the 1960s Quant was a major contributor to 'swinging London' introducing some of the seminal items of 1960s fashion: the miniskirt, hot pants, paint-box make-up and plastic raincoats.International
West Germany joins NATO, prompting the East European Communist counties to respond by forming the Warsaw Pact. The signatories of the Warsaw Pact pledged to defend each other if any member was attacked. This development was a major event in the Cold War as it firmly established the East and West as opposing military powers.Comments back to top
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