Elisabeth Welch
(1904-2003), SingerSitter in 22 portraits
Born in New York, Welch made her Broadway debut in 1923 but left America in 1929 to work in Paris. There she met Cole Porter, later starring in his musical Nymph Errant (1933) in London. Settling in England, she became one of the great divas of the stage musical and further endeared herself to British audiences in the BBC Radio series Soft Lights and Sweet Music during the 1930s. She appeared in numerous films including Around the Town (1938), Over the Moon (1937) This was Paris (1942) and Fiddlers Three (1944). In her final screen appearance, dressed in gold, she delivered the torch song 'Stormy Weather' in Derek Jarman's adaptation of The Tempest, which has became an iconic moment in her career.
by David Gamble
toned bromide print, 1988
NPG P635
by Carl Van Vechten
cream-toned bromide print, 14 January 1933
NPG x131693
by Carl Van Vechten
cream-toned bromide print, 14 January 1933
NPG x131694
by Carl Van Vechten
cream-toned bromide print, 14 January 1933
NPG x131695
by Humphrey Spender
bromide print on card mount, June 1933
NPG x131702
by Humphrey Spender
bromide print on card mount, June 1933
NPG x14268
by Cannons of Hollywood (George Frederic Cannons)
cream-toned bromide print, 1934
NPG x131703
by Paul Tanqueray
cream-toned bromide print on photographer's card mount, 1935
NPG x131689
by Paul Tanqueray
cream-toned bromide print on photographer's card mount, 1935
NPG x131690
by Paul Tanqueray
cream-toned bromide print on photographer's card mount, 1935
NPG x131691
by Paul Tanqueray
cream-toned bromide print on photographer's card mount, 1935
NPG x131692
by Unknown photographer
glossy bromide print, 1935
NPG x131704
by Kenneth Norton Collins
matte bromide print on card, 1936
NPG x131696
by Kenneth Norton Collins
matte bromide print on card, 1936
NPG x131697
by Kenneth Norton Collins
matte bromide print on card, 1936
NPG x131698
by Rolf
bromide print on cream card mount, 1936
NPG x131701
by Gee & Watson Ltd
cream-toned bromide print on card, 1946
NPG x131699
by Gee & Watson Ltd
cream-toned bromide print, 1946
NPG x131700
Comments back to top
We are currently unable to accept new comments, but any past comments are available to read below.
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.