Marilyn Monroe; Cecil Beaton

1 portrait of Marilyn Monroe

© Ed Pfizenmaier

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Marilyn Monroe; Cecil Beaton

by Ed Pfizenmaier
2 1/4 inch square contact print, 22 February 1956
Accepted in lieu of tax by H.M. Government and allocated to the Gallery, 1991
Photographs Collection
NPG x40285

Sittersback to top

  • Cecil Beaton (1904-1980), Photographer, designer and writer. Sitter associated with 360 portraits, Artist or producer associated with 1114 portraits.
  • Marilyn Monroe (1926-1962), Actress. Sitter in 49 portraits.

Artistback to top

  • Ed Pfizenmaier (1926-2016), Photographer. Artist or producer of 16 portraits.

This portraitback to top

Although associated with Vogue though most of his career, Beaton's Monroe portfolio appeared in Harper's Bazaar, for whom he worked in the mid 1950s. It was whilst in New York for the rehearsals and premiere of My Fair Lady that Beaton photographed Monroe. With a possibility that he would be the designer of Monroe's dresses for The Prince and The Showgirl, Beaton arranged a photography sitting in his suite in the Ambassador Hotel on 22 February 1956. Pfizenmaier, Beaton's assistant, noted that Monroe did her own make-up and 'came just by herself, with these two little dresses... it was as simple as that.' Beaton recalled 'She romps, she squeals with delight, she leaps on the sofa. She puts a flower stem in her mouth... It is an artless, impromptu, high-spirited, infectiously gay performance. It will probably end in tears.' The session produced one of Monroe's favourite portraits which hung in her New York apartment that she shared with her third husband Arthur Miller.

Placesback to top

  • Place made and portrayed: United States (Ambassador Hotel, New York, United States)

Linked displays and exhibitionsback to top

Subjects & Themesback to top

Events of 1956back to top

Current affairs

The first supermarket opens in Britain. Inspired by the new innovation in America, Jack Cohen opened his first Tesco supermarket in Essex.
The First Clean Air Act is passed in response to the 'Pea Soup' smog over London.

Art and science

Pop Art is seen for the first time in the This is Tomorrow exhibition at the Whitechapel Gallery. The exhibition included Richard Hamilton's iconic collage: What is it that makes today's homes so different, so appealing?
John Osborne's play Look Back in Anger opens at the Royal Court Theatre, introducing the phrase 'Angry young man' to describe the new movement of gritty, post-war realism in literature.

International

The Suez Crisis rocked Eden's premiership and marked the decline of British world power and influence in favour of America. In 1956 President Nasser of Egypt nationalised the Suez canal. Although Britain and France, who had owned the canal since the 19th century, invaded Egypt, they were soon persuaded to withdraw by US President Eisenhower who disapproved of the occupation.

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