Cecil Beaton
(1904-1980), Photographer, designer and writerSitter associated with 360 portraits
Artist associated with 1114 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
by Cecil Beaton
chromogenic print, November 1955
NPG P1463
by Cecil Beaton
chromogenic print, November 1955
NPG P1465
by Cecil Beaton
chromogenic print, November 1955
NPG P1474
by Cecil Beaton
vintage bromide print on white card mount, July 1956
NPG P869(12)
by Cecil Beaton
vintage bromide print on white card mount, 1957
NPG P869(18)
by Cecil Beaton
vintage bromide print on white card mount, March 1958
NPG P869(19)
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