Cecil Beaton
(1904-1980), Photographer, designer and writerSitter 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
Watch a film clip on the photographer from the BBC Archive in the Media section below
by Cecil Beaton
vintage bromide print, December 1926
NPG P868
Lady Cynthia Blanche Mosley (née Curzon)
by Cecil Beaton
gelatin silver print, 1929
NPG P1353
by Cecil Beaton
vintage bromide print on white card mount, 1930
NPG P869(3)
by Cecil Beaton
bromide print on card mount, 1934
NPG P1041
by Cecil Beaton
vintage bromide print on white card mount, 1936
NPG P869(17)
Wallis, Duchess of Windsor; Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor (King Edward VIII)
by Cecil Beaton
bromide print, 2 June 1937
NPG P259
Wallis, Duchess of Windsor; Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor (King Edward VIII)
by Cecil Beaton
bromide print, 2 June 1937
NPG P260
Wallis, Duchess of Windsor; Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor (King Edward VIII)
by Cecil Beaton
bromide print, 2 June 1937
NPG P264
Wallis, Duchess of Windsor; Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor (King Edward VIII)
by Cecil Beaton
bromide print, 2 June 1937
NPG P265
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