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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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Anton Walbrook; Diana Wynyard; Rex Harrison, by Angus McBean - NPG Ax183854

Anton Walbrook; Diana Wynyard; Rex Harrison

by Angus McBean
vintage bromide print, 1939
NPG Ax183854

Angus McBean, by Angus McBean - NPG Ax183879

Angus McBean

by Angus McBean
vintage bromide print, 1939
NPG Ax183879

Mary Ellis, by Angus McBean - NPG x194260

Mary Ellis

by Angus McBean
vintage print, circa 1939
NPG x194260

Diana Churchill, by Angus McBean - NPG Ax183856

Diana Churchill

by Angus McBean
vintage bromide print, 1940
NPG Ax183856

Joan Boughton-Green; Freddie Harris, by Angus McBean - NPG Ax183857

Joan Boughton-Green; Freddie Harris

by Angus McBean
vintage bromide print, 1940
NPG Ax183857

Joan Boughton-Green, by Angus McBean - NPG Ax183858

Joan Boughton-Green

by Angus McBean
vintage bromide print, 1940
NPG Ax183858

Angus McBean, by Angus McBean - NPG Ax183859

Angus McBean

by Angus McBean
vintage bromide print, circa 1940
NPG Ax183859

Berto Pasuka, by Angus McBean - NPG Ax183871

Berto Pasuka

by Angus McBean
vintage bromide print, 1940s
NPG Ax183871

Ronald ('Ron') Sears; Leonard Sears, by Angus McBean - NPG Ax183880

Ronald ('Ron') Sears; Leonard Sears

by Angus McBean
vintage bromide print, circa 1940
NPG Ax183880

Quentin Crisp, by Angus McBean - NPG x135799

Quentin Crisp

by Angus McBean
modern bromide print from original negative, 1941
NPG x135799

Quentin Crisp, by Angus McBean - NPG x135800

Quentin Crisp

by Angus McBean
modern bromide print from original negative, 1941
NPG x135800

Quentin Crisp, by Angus McBean - NPG x135801

Quentin Crisp

by Angus McBean
modern bromide print from original negative, 1941
NPG x135801

Quentin Crisp, by Angus McBean - NPG x135802

Quentin Crisp

by Angus McBean
modern bromide print from original negative, 1941
NPG x135802

Quentin Crisp, by Angus McBean - NPG x135803

Quentin Crisp

by Angus McBean
modern bromide print from original negative, 1941
NPG x135803

Quentin Crisp, by Angus McBean - NPG x135804

Quentin Crisp

by Angus McBean
modern bromide print from original negative, 1941
NPG x135804

Sir Frederick Ashton, by Angus McBean - NPG x15063

Sir Frederick Ashton

by Angus McBean
bromide print, 1941
NPG x15063

Angus McBean, by Angus McBean - NPG x127125

Angus McBean

by Angus McBean
vintage bromide print, 1941
NPG x127125

Alec Clunes as Hamlet, by Angus McBean - NPG x131841

Alec Clunes as Hamlet

by Angus McBean
cream-toned vintage print on card mount, 1945
NPG x131841

Benjamin Britten, by Angus McBean - NPG x15202

Benjamin Britten

by Angus McBean
cream-toned bromide print, 1945
NPG x15202

Benjamin Britten, by Angus McBean - NPG x15203

Benjamin Britten

by Angus McBean
cream-toned bromide print, 1945
NPG x15203

Berto Pasuka, by Angus McBean - NPG Ax183873

Berto Pasuka

by Angus McBean
vintage bromide print, circa 1946
NPG Ax183873

Berto Pasuka, by Angus McBean - NPG Ax183875

Berto Pasuka

by Angus McBean
vintage bromide print, circa 1946
NPG Ax183875

Berto Pasuka, by Angus McBean - NPG Ax183876

Berto Pasuka

by Angus McBean
vintage bromide print, circa 1946
NPG Ax183876

Berto Pasuka, by Angus McBean - NPG Ax183877

Berto Pasuka

by Angus McBean
vintage bromide print, circa 1946
NPG Ax183877

Berto Pasuka, by Angus McBean - NPG Ax183878

Berto Pasuka

by Angus McBean
vintage bromide print, circa 1946
NPG Ax183878

Berto Pasuka, by Angus McBean - NPG Ax183874

Berto Pasuka

by Angus McBean
vintage bromide print, circa 1946
NPG Ax183874

Berto Pasuka, by Angus McBean - NPG Ax183872

Berto Pasuka

by Angus McBean
vintage bromide print, 1947
NPG Ax183872

Berto Pasuka, by Angus McBean - NPG Ax183882

Berto Pasuka

by Angus McBean
vintage bromide print, 1947
NPG Ax183882

Berto Pasuka, by Angus McBean - NPG x199306

Berto Pasuka

by Angus McBean
vintage bromide print, 1947
NPG x199306

Winifred Radford, by Angus McBean - NPG x88977

Winifred Radford

by Angus McBean
vintage bromide print on card mount, 1947
NPG x88977

Winifred Radford, by Angus McBean - NPG x88980

Winifred Radford

by Angus McBean
vintage bromide print on card mount, 1947
NPG x88980

Winifred Radford, by Angus McBean - NPG x88985

Winifred Radford

by Angus McBean
vintage bromide print on card mount, 1947
NPG x88985

Winifred Radford, by Angus McBean - NPG x88987

Winifred Radford

by Angus McBean
vintage bromide print on card mount, 1947
NPG x88987

Alexis Rassine as Elihu in 'Job', by Angus McBean - NPG x198537

Alexis Rassine as Elihu in 'Job'

by Angus McBean
gelatin silver print, circa 1948
NPG x198537

Elizabeth Taylor (née Coles), by Angus McBean - NPG x47367

Elizabeth Taylor (née Coles)

by Angus McBean
vintage bromide print on card mount, circa 1949
NPG x47367

Vivien Leigh as Blanche DuBois in 'A Streetcar Named Desire', by Angus McBean - NPG x138144

Vivien Leigh as Blanche DuBois in 'A Streetcar Named Desire'

by Angus McBean
vintage bromide print, October 1949
NPG x138144

Jean Simmons as Akulina in 'The Power of Darkness', by Angus McBean - NPG x193349

Jean Simmons as Akulina in 'The Power of Darkness'

by Angus McBean
halftone reproduction tear sheet, published 4 May 1949
NPG x193349

Audrey Hepburn, by Angus McBean - NPG x132853

Audrey Hepburn

by Angus McBean
modern bromide print, November 1950
NPG x132853

Angus McBean, by Angus McBean - NPG x39302

Angus McBean

by Angus McBean
bromide print photomontage, 1950
NPG x39302

Myra Verney, by Angus McBean - NPG x39401

Myra Verney

by Angus McBean
bromide print on card mount, 1950s
NPG x39401

Myra Verney, by Angus McBean - NPG x39402

Myra Verney

by Angus McBean
bromide print on card mount, 1950s
NPG x39402

Myra Verney, by Angus McBean - NPG x39403

Myra Verney

by Angus McBean
bromide print on card mount, 1950s
NPG x39403

Sir Cliff Richard, by Angus McBean - NPG x194175

Sir Cliff Richard

by Angus McBean
vintage print, 1950s
NPG x194175

Hugh Laing (né Hugh Skinner), by Angus McBean - NPG x194401

Hugh Laing (né Hugh Skinner)

by Angus McBean
bromide press print, circa 1950s
NPG x194401

Unknown woman, by Angus McBean - NPG x198524

Unknown woman

by Angus McBean
gelatin silver print, 1950s
NPG x198524

Winifred Radford, by Angus McBean - NPG x88981

Winifred Radford

by Angus McBean
vintage bromide print on card mount, 1950
NPG x88981

Winifred Radford, by Angus McBean - NPG x88983

Winifred Radford

by Angus McBean
vintage bromide print on card mount, 1950
NPG x88983

Winifred Radford; Constance Carrodus, by Angus McBean - NPG x88989

Winifred Radford; Constance Carrodus

by Angus McBean
vintage bromide print on card mount, 1950s
NPG x88989

Winifred Radford, by Angus McBean - NPG x88982

Winifred Radford

by Angus McBean
vintage bromide print on card mount, 1950
NPG x88982

Audrey Hepburn, by Angus McBean - NPG x25145

Audrey Hepburn

by Angus McBean
bromide print, October 1950
NPG x25145

Angus McBean, by Angus McBean - NPG x39303

Angus McBean

by Angus McBean
bromide print photomontage, 1951
NPG x39303

Winifred Radford, by Angus McBean - NPG x88986

Winifred Radford

by Angus McBean
vintage bromide print on card mount, 1951-1952
NPG x88986

David Ball, by Angus McBean - NPG x39319

David Ball

by Angus McBean
vintage bromide print mounted as a Christmas card, 1952
NPG x39319

Coral Edith Browne, by Angus McBean - NPG x46546

Coral Edith Browne

by Angus McBean
bromide print, 1952
NPG x46546

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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.