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- group '356'


Bright Young Things


The Bright Young Things (or Bright Young People) were a set of bohemian socialites and aristocrats who became notorious in the 1920s tabloid press for their decadent parties, riotous practical jokes and hedonistic behaviour. Their social scene focused on London, where they enjoyed elaborate night-time treasure hunts and entry to private clubs. Favourite haunts included the Gargoyle Club and Cavendish Hotel, but also extended to country house parties and meticulously planned costume balls. The term 'Bright Young People' was originally coined by the tabloid press and applied to the pleasure-seeking young men and women of the interwar generation. Many of them went on to become artists and writers, who in turn became the inspiration for various literary characters. Cecil Beaton’s photographs captured the glamour and creativity of the Bright Young Things, many of whom became his close friends.

Harold Acton

Harold Acton

1904-1994
Author
Sitter in 5 portraits
Sylvia (née Hawkes), Lady Ashley

Sylvia (née Hawkes), Lady Ashley

1904-1977
Actress and society beauty; former wife of Lord Ashley and of Douglas Fairbanks Sr and of 6th Baron Stanley of Alderley and of Clark Gable, and later wife of Prince Dimitri Djordjadze
Sitter in 10 portraits
Tallulah Bankhead

Tallulah Bankhead

1902-1968
Actress
Sitter in 50 portraits
Henry Frederick Thynne, 6th Marquess of Bath

Henry Frederick Thynne, 6th Marquess of Bath

1905-1992
Landowner and businessman
Sitter in 28 portraits
Daphne Fielding

Daphne Fielding

1904-1997
Author; former wife of 6th Marquess of Bath, and later wife of Alexander Fielding; daughter of 4th Baron Vivian
Sitter associated with 14 portraits
Baba Beaton

Baba Beaton

1912-1973
Sister of Sir Cecil Beaton
Sitter associated with 6 portraits
Cecil Beaton

Cecil Beaton

1904-1980
Photographer, designer and writer
Sitter associated with 360 portraits | Artist associated with 1114 portraits
Sir John Betjeman

Sir John Betjeman

1906-1984
Poet Laureate, writer and broadcaster
Sitter in 41 portraits
Edward Burra

Edward Burra

1905-1976
Painter
Sitter in 3 portraits | Artist of 3 portraits
Robert Byron

Robert Byron

1905-1941
Travel writer, art historian and critic
Sitter in 1 portrait
Lady Lettice Cotterell (née Lygon)

Lady Lettice Cotterell (née Lygon)

1906-1973
Wife of Sir Richard Charles Geers Cotterell, 5th Bt; daughter of 7th Earl Beauchamp
Sitter in 8 portraits
Nancy Cunard

Nancy Cunard

1896-1965
Poet and political activist
Sitter in 6 portraits
(Alexander) Gavin Henderson, 2nd Baron Faringdon

(Alexander) Gavin Henderson, 2nd Baron Faringdon

1902-1977
Labour politician, pacifist and member of the Fabian Society
Sitter in 12 portraits
Nancy Mitford

Nancy Mitford

1904-1973
Writer and biographer
Sitter in 25 portraits
Eddie Gathorne-Hardy

Eddie Gathorne-Hardy

1901-1978
Botanist; son of 3rd Earl of Cranbrook
Sitter in 4 portraits
Paula Gellibrand, Marquise de Casa Maury

Paula Gellibrand, Marquise de Casa Maury

1898-1986
Socialite; wife of 1st Marquess de Casa Maury
Sitter in 20 portraits
Henry Green (Henry Vincent Yorke)

Henry Green (Henry Vincent Yorke)

1905-1973
Novelist
Sitter associated with 2 portraits
Oonagh Guinness

Oonagh Guinness

1910-1995
Society beauty and art collector
Sitter in 1 portrait
Pamela Margaret Elizabeth Berry (née Smith), Lady Hartwell

Pamela Margaret Elizabeth Berry (née Smith), Lady Hartwell

1914-1982
Chairman of the British Museum Society; President of the Incorporated Society of London Fashion Designers
Sitter associated with 13 portraits
Hon. David Herbert

Hon. David Herbert

1908-1995
Socialite and traveller; son of 15th Earl of Pembroke
Sitter in 5 portraits
Arthur Jeffress

Arthur Jeffress

1904-1961
Collector and art dealer
Sitter in 11 portraits
Teresa ('Baby') Jungman (later Cuthbertson)

Teresa ('Baby') Jungman (later Cuthbertson)

1907-2010
Society hostess
Sitter in 6 portraits
Zita Jungman (later James)

Zita Jungman (later James)

1903-2006
Society hostess; wife of Arthur James; daughter of Nico Jungman
Sitter in 3 portraits
Jessie Doris (née Delevingne), Viscountess Castlerosse

Jessie Doris (née Delevingne), Viscountess Castlerosse

1900-1942
First wife of Viscount Castlerosse, later 6th Earl of Kenmare; daughter of Edward Charles Delevingne
Sitter in 5 portraits
Barbara Ker-Seymer

Barbara Ker-Seymer

1905-1993
Photographer
Sitter in 1 portrait | Artist associated with 9 portraits
John Patrick Douglas Balfour, 3rd Baron Kinross

John Patrick Douglas Balfour, 3rd Baron Kinross

1904-1976
Historian, biographer and journalist
Sitter in 8 portraits
Constant Lambert

Constant Lambert

1905-1951
Composer, conductor and critic
Sitter in 33 portraits
Gertrude Lawrence

Gertrude Lawrence

1898-1952
Actress, singer and dancer
Sitter associated with 101 portraits
Tilly Losch

Tilly Losch

1907-1975
Dancer and actress
Sitter in 22 portraits
Lady Mary Lygon

Lady Mary Lygon

1910-1982
Former wife of Vsevelod Ivanovich Romanov, Prince of Russia; daughter of 7th Earl Beauchamp
Sitter in 4 portraits
Oliver Messel

Oliver Messel

1904-1978
Artist and stage designer
Sitter in 27 portraits
Diana Mitford (later Lady Mosley)

Diana Mitford (later Lady Mosley)

1910-2003
Nazi sympathiser and author; former wife of Hon. Bryan Guinness, and later wife of Sir Oswald Mosley, 6th Bt; daughter of 2nd Baron Redesdale
Sitter in 24 portraits
Edwina Cynthia Annette (née Ashley), Countess Mountbatten of Burma

Edwina Cynthia Annette (née Ashley), Countess Mountbatten of Burma

1901-1960
Director of emergency relief services and Vicereine of India; wife of 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma; daughter of 1st Baron Mount Temple
Sitter in 42 portraits
Bryan Walter Guinness, 2nd Baron Moyne of Bury St Edmunds

Bryan Walter Guinness, 2nd Baron Moyne of Bury St Edmunds

1905-1992
Poet, novelist and playwright
Sitter in 2 portraits
Beverley Nichols

Beverley Nichols

1898-1983
Author, composer and playwright
Sitter in 54 portraits
Lady Diana Cooper (Diana (née Manners), Viscountess Norwich)

Lady Diana Cooper (Diana (née Manners), Viscountess Norwich)

1892-1986
Actress and writer; wife of 1st Viscount Norwich; daughter of 8th Duke of Rutland
Sitter associated with 39 portraits
Brenda Dean Paul

Brenda Dean Paul

1907-1959
Actress and socialite; daughter of Poldowski and Sir Aubrey Dean Paul, 5th Bt
Sitter in 1 portrait
Aileen Sibell Mary Plunket (née Guinness)

Aileen Sibell Mary Plunket (née Guinness)

1904-1999
Society hostess; former wife of Brinsley Sheridan Bushe Plunket and later wife of Valerian Stux-Rybar; daughter of Arthur Ernest Guinness
Sitter in 3 portraits
Babe Plunket-Greene

Babe Plunket-Greene

1907-1987
Socialite; former wife of David Plunket-Greene; later wife of Count de Bosdari
Sitter in 6 portraits
Lady Bridget Poulett

Lady Bridget Poulett

1912-1975
Socialite; daughter of 7th Earl Poulett
Sitter in 14 portraits