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Cecil Beaton

(1904-1980), Photographer, designer and writer

Sitter associated with 361 portraits
Artist associated with 1112 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 P219

by Cecil Beaton
bromide print, 1927
NPG P219

Cecil Beaton, by Anthony Wysard - NPG 6438

by Anthony Wysard
pencil, ink and wash on board, 1930
NPG 6438

Cecil Beaton, by Frank Owen Dobson - NPG 7014

by Frank Owen Dobson
bronze bust, 1930
NPG 7014

Cecil Beaton, by Pavel Tchelitchew - NPG 5306

by Pavel Tchelitchew
gouache, 1934
NPG 5306

Cecil Beaton, by Christian Bérard - NPG 5307

by Christian Bérard
oil on canvas, 1937
NPG 5307

Cecil Beaton, by Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent - NPG 6137

by Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent
pencil, chalk and wash, 1943
NPG 6137

Cecil Beaton, by Angus McBean - NPG P1294

by Angus McBean
vintage bromide print, 1949
NPG P1294

Cecil Beaton, by Lewis Morley - NPG P512(2)

by Lewis Morley
bromide print, 1960
NPG P512(2)

Cecil Beaton, by Arnold Newman - NPG P150(5)

by Arnold Newman
bromide print, 1978
NPG P150(5)

Cecil Beaton, by Unknown photographer - NPG x40653

by Unknown photographer
bromide postcard print, 1906
NPG x40653

Reginald Beaton; Cecil Beaton; Etty Beaton, by Lallie Charles - NPG x126125

Reginald Beaton; Cecil Beaton; Etty Beaton

by Lallie Charles
photogravure reproduction, 1908
NPG x126125

Cecil Beaton with his nanny Ninnie Collard, by Unknown photographer - NPG x40654

Cecil Beaton with his nanny Ninnie Collard

by Unknown photographer
vintage bromide print, circa 1908
NPG x40654

Cecil Beaton, by Unknown photographer - NPG x40410

by Unknown photographer
bromide print, 1910s
NPG x40410

Cecil Beaton, by Grigg - NPG x30310

by Grigg
bromide print on tissue and card mount, circa 1920
NPG x30310

Cecil Beaton, by Hay Wrightson - NPG x30313

by Hay Wrightson
sepia-toned bromide print on card and tissue mount, 1920s
NPG x30313

Cecil Beaton, by Lafayette - NPG x30312

by Lafayette
bromide print on cream-toned paper, 1920s
NPG x30312

Cecil Beaton, by Peter North - NPG x30322

by Peter North
cream-toned bromide print on page mount, 1920s
NPG x30322

Cecil Beaton, by Peter North - NPG x30323

by Peter North
cream-toned bromide print on page mount, 1920s
NPG x30323

Cecil Beaton, by Peter North - NPG x30324

by Peter North
cream-toned bromide print on page mount, 1920s
NPG x30324

Cecil Beaton, by Peter North - NPG x30325

by Peter North
cream-toned bromide print on page mount, 1920s
NPG x30325

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Related People

Barbara ('Baba') Beaton (Mrs Alec Hambro) (sister)
Esther ('Etty') Beaton (Mrs Ernest Walter Hardy) (mother)
Reginald Beaton (brother)
Nancy Elizabeth Louise Hardy (née Beaton), Lady Smiley (sister)

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