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Angus McBean

(1904-1990), Photographer

Sitter in 79 portraits
Artist associated with 283 portraits
Began his career in the theatre as mask-maker and scenery designer before turning to full-time theatre photography. McBean is renowned for his theatrical and inventive photography of the 1930s and 1940s. Imitated throughout his career, his influence especially in advertising is still prominent today. In 1935 he opened his own studio; and his prominent style was soon being published in glossy magazines. The Surrealist Exhibition in 1936 was an influence on McBean's theatrical portraits. After the Second World War he opened a larger studio in Covent Garden, and in the 1940s and 1950s was inundated with commissions from theatre companies. In the 1960s McBean photographed the Beatles for their first album.

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Beatrix Lehmann, by Angus McBean - NPG P922

Beatrix Lehmann

by Angus McBean
bromide print, 1937
NPG P922

Flora Robson, by Angus McBean - NPG P374

Flora Robson

by Angus McBean
vintage bromide print, 1938
NPG P374

Frances Day, by Angus McBean - NPG P917

Frances Day

by Angus McBean
bromide print, 1938
NPG P917

Mary Ellis, by Angus McBean - NPG P1300

Mary Ellis

by Angus McBean
vintage bromide print, 1938
NPG P1300

Leslie Henson, by Angus McBean - NPG P1301

Leslie Henson

by Angus McBean
vintage bromide print, 1938
NPG P1301

Luise Rainer, by Angus McBean - NPG P1307

Luise Rainer

by Angus McBean
vintage bromide print, 1938
NPG P1307

Zena Dare, by Angus McBean - NPG P888

Zena Dare

by Angus McBean
bromide print, 1938
NPG P888

Gwen Ffrangcon-Davies, by Angus McBean - NPG P893

Gwen Ffrangcon-Davies

by Angus McBean
bromide print, 1938
NPG P893

Vivien Leigh; Angus McBean, by Angus McBean, by  John Vickers - NPG P901

Vivien Leigh; Angus McBean

by Angus McBean, by John Vickers
bromide print, 1938
NPG P901

Dame Peggy Ashcroft, by Angus McBean - NPG P913

Dame Peggy Ashcroft

by Angus McBean
bromide print, 1938
NPG P913

Jane Baxter (Feodora Forde), by Angus McBean - NPG P914

Jane Baxter (Feodora Forde)

by Angus McBean
bromide print, 1938
NPG P914

Dame Gladys Cooper, by Angus McBean - NPG P916

Dame Gladys Cooper

by Angus McBean
bromide print, 1938
NPG P916

Dorothy Dickson, by Angus McBean - NPG P918

Dorothy Dickson

by Angus McBean
bromide print, 1938
NPG P918

Elsa Lanchester, by Angus McBean - NPG P921

Elsa Lanchester

by Angus McBean
bromide print, 1938
NPG P921

Margaret Lockwood, by Angus McBean - NPG P923

Margaret Lockwood

by Angus McBean
bromide print, 1938
NPG P923

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If you need information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service . Please note that we cannot provide valuations. You can buy a print or greeting card of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at around £6 for unframed prints, £16 for framed prints. If you wish to license an image, select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Use this image button, or contact our Rights and Images service. We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.

Theresa Mackey

03 October 2022, 18:57

Yes. My great aunt Gladys had all of his personal Christmas Cards. She was his PA.