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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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Nancy Spain, by Angus McBean - NPG P909

Nancy Spain

by Angus McBean
bromide print, 1951
NPG P909

Vivien Leigh, by Angus McBean - NPG P62

Vivien Leigh

by Angus McBean
vintage bromide print, 1952
NPG P62

Beatrice Gladys Lillie (Lady Peel), by Angus McBean - NPG P903

Beatrice Gladys Lillie (Lady Peel)

by Angus McBean
bromide print, 1954
NPG P903

Peter Brook, by Angus McBean - NPG P58

Peter Brook

by Angus McBean
bromide print, circa 1959
NPG P58

John Gielgud, by Angus McBean - NPG P60

John Gielgud

by Angus McBean
bromide print, 1959
NPG P60

Shirley Bassey, by Angus McBean - NPG P885

Shirley Bassey

by Angus McBean
bromide print, 1959
NPG P885

Spike Milligan, by Angus McBean - NPG P907

Spike Milligan

by Angus McBean
bromide print, 1960
NPG P907

Joan Plowright, by Angus McBean - NPG P908

Joan Plowright

by Angus McBean
bromide print, early 1960s
NPG P908

David Lean, by Angus McBean - NPG P900

David Lean

by Angus McBean
bromide print, circa 1961
NPG P900

The Shadows, by Angus McBean - NPG P912

The Shadows

by Angus McBean
bromide print, 1961
NPG P912

Dame Elizabeth Taylor, by Angus McBean - NPG P910

Dame Elizabeth Taylor

by Angus McBean
bromide print, 1966
NPG P910

Danny La Rue, by Angus McBean - NPG P899

Danny La Rue

by Angus McBean
bromide print, 1968
NPG P899

Stefan Lorant, by Angus McBean - NPG P904

Stefan Lorant

by Angus McBean
bromide print
NPG P904

Angus McBean, by Angus McBean - NPG Ax183844

Angus McBean

by Angus McBean
vintage bromide print, circa 1930s
NPG Ax183844

Angus McBean, by Angus McBean - NPG Ax183847

Angus McBean

by Angus McBean
vintage bromide print, circa 1930s
NPG Ax183847

Angus McBean, by Angus McBean - NPG Ax183848

Angus McBean

by Angus McBean
vintage bromide print, circa 1930s
NPG Ax183848

Paul Jones, by Angus McBean - NPG Ax183849

Paul Jones

by Angus McBean
vintage bromide print, circa 1930s
NPG Ax183849

Angus McBean, by Angus McBean - NPG Ax183850

Angus McBean

by Angus McBean
vintage bromide print, circa 1930s
NPG Ax183850

Jock Roberts, by Angus McBean - NPG Ax183863

Jock Roberts

by Angus McBean
vintage bromide print, 1930s
NPG Ax183863

Unknown man, by Angus McBean - NPG Ax183866

Unknown man

by Angus McBean
vintage bromide print, 1930s
NPG Ax183866

Unknown man, by Angus McBean - NPG Ax183865

Unknown man

by Angus McBean
vintage bromide print, 1930s
NPG Ax183865

Unknown man, by Angus McBean - NPG Ax183864

Unknown man

by Angus McBean
vintage bromide print, 1930s
NPG Ax183864

Unknown man, by Angus McBean - NPG Ax183867

Unknown man

by Angus McBean
vintage bromide print, 1930s
NPG Ax183867

Three unknown men, by Angus McBean - NPG Ax183869

Three unknown men

by Angus McBean
vintage bromide print, 1930s
NPG Ax183869

Richard Morris, by Angus McBean - NPG Ax183881

Richard Morris

by Angus McBean
vintage bromide print, 1930s
NPG Ax183881

Unknown man, by Angus McBean - NPG Ax183868

Unknown man

by Angus McBean
vintage bromide print, 1930s
NPG Ax183868

Robert Harris, by Angus McBean - NPG x194099

Robert Harris

by Angus McBean
bromide print, 1930s
NPG x194099

Sir Michael Redgrave as Orlando in 'As You Like It', by Angus McBean - NPG x45112

Sir Michael Redgrave as Orlando in 'As You Like It'

by Angus McBean
bromide print on photographer's card mount, 1936
NPG x45112

Alec Clunes, by Angus McBean - NPG x131842

Alec Clunes

by Angus McBean
cream-toned vintage proof print, 1937
NPG x131842

Diana Wynyard as Eliza Doolittle in 'Pygmalion', by Angus McBean - NPG Ax183853

Diana Wynyard as Eliza Doolittle in 'Pygmalion'

by Angus McBean
vintage bromide print, 1937
NPG Ax183853

Laurence Olivier as Hamlet, by Angus McBean - NPG x127118

Laurence Olivier as Hamlet

by Angus McBean
vintage bromide print mounted as a Christmas card, 1937
NPG x127118

Sir Alec Guinness as Hamlet, by Angus McBean - NPG x127700

Sir Alec Guinness as Hamlet

by Angus McBean
vintage bromide print, 1938
NPG x127700

Vivien Leigh, by Angus McBean - NPG x30432

Vivien Leigh

by Angus McBean
matte bromide print, 1938
NPG x30432

Penelope Dudley-Ward, by Angus McBean - NPG x47327

Penelope Dudley-Ward

by Angus McBean
bromide print, 1938
NPG x47327

Vivien Leigh as Aurora, Goddess of Dawn, by Angus McBean - NPG Ax183861

Vivien Leigh as Aurora, Goddess of Dawn

by Angus McBean
vintage bromide print, 1938
NPG Ax183861

Margaret Rawlings, by Angus McBean - NPG Ax183851

Margaret Rawlings

by Angus McBean
vintage bromide print, 1938
NPG Ax183851

Gwen Ffrangcon-Davies as 'Chorus' in 'Henry V', by Angus McBean - NPG x194428

Gwen Ffrangcon-Davies as 'Chorus' in 'Henry V'

by Angus McBean
bromide press print, 1938
NPG x194428

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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.