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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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Sir Robert Murray Helpmann, by Angus McBean - NPG x198529

Sir Robert Murray Helpmann

by Angus McBean
gelatin silver print, circa 1952
NPG x198529

Winifred Radford, by Angus McBean - NPG x88979

Winifred Radford

by Angus McBean
vintage bromide print on card mount, 1952
NPG x88979

David Ball, by Angus McBean - NPG x39320

David Ball

by Angus McBean
vintage bromide print mounted as a Christmas card, 1953
NPG x39320

Winifred Radford, by Angus McBean - NPG x88984

Winifred Radford

by Angus McBean
vintage bromide print on card mount, 1953
NPG x88984

Winifred Radford, by Angus McBean - NPG x88978

Winifred Radford

by Angus McBean
vintage bromide print on card mount, 1953
NPG x88978

David Ball, by Angus McBean - NPG x39321

David Ball

by Angus McBean
vintage bromide print mounted as a Christmas card, 1954
NPG x39321

Maria Callas, by Angus McBean - NPG x131154

Maria Callas

by Angus McBean
chromogenic print, 1954
NPG x131154

David Ball, by Angus McBean - NPG x39322

David Ball

by Angus McBean
vintage bromide print mounted as a Christmas card, 1955
NPG x39322

Angus McBean, by Angus McBean - NPG x39309

Angus McBean

by Angus McBean
bromide print photomontage, 1955
NPG x39309

David Ball, by Angus McBean - NPG x39323

David Ball

by Angus McBean
vintage bromide print mounted as a Christmas card, 1956
NPG x39323

Diana Wynyard, by Angus McBean - NPG x27556

Diana Wynyard

by Angus McBean
bromide print, May 1956
NPG x27556

Renée Asherson, by Angus McBean - NPG x194219

Renée Asherson

by Angus McBean
vintage print, 1956
NPG x194219

Winifred Radford, by Angus McBean - NPG x88976

Winifred Radford

by Angus McBean
vintage bromide print on card mount, 1957
NPG x88976

Winifred Radford; Constance Carrodus, by Angus McBean - NPG x88988

Winifred Radford; Constance Carrodus

by Angus McBean
vintage bromide print on card mount, 1957-1958
NPG x88988

Angus McBean, by Angus McBean - NPG x125282

Angus McBean

by Angus McBean
vintage bromide print mounted as a Christmas card, 1959
NPG x125282

'1959', by Angus McBean - NPG x125282a

'1959'

by Angus McBean
vintage bromide print mounted as a Christmas card, 1959
NPG x125282a

'The Beverley Sisters' (Babs Beverley; Joy Beverley; Teddie Beverley), by Angus McBean - NPG x131150

'The Beverley Sisters' (Babs Beverley; Joy Beverley; Teddie Beverley)

by Angus McBean
chromogenic print, 1960
On display in Room 28 on Floor 2 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG x131150

Angus McBean, by Angus McBean - NPG x39317

Angus McBean

by Angus McBean
bromide print photomontage, 1960
NPG x39317

Dame Gladys Cooper, by Angus McBean - NPG x135805

Dame Gladys Cooper

by Angus McBean
modern bromide print from original negative, 1960s
NPG x135805

Spike Milligan, by Angus McBean - NPG x131153

Spike Milligan

by Angus McBean
chromogenic print, 1961
On display in Room 28 on Floor 2 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG x131153

Angus McBean, by Angus McBean - NPG x131155

Angus McBean

by Angus McBean
vintage bromide print mounted as a Christmas card, 1961
NPG x131155

Laurence Olivier, by Angus McBean - NPG x15451

Laurence Olivier

by Angus McBean
semi-matte bromide print, 1962
NPG x15451

Laurence Olivier, by Angus McBean - NPG x26069

Laurence Olivier

by Angus McBean
semi-matte bromide print, 1962
NPG x26069

Angus McBean, by Angus McBean - NPG x131156

Angus McBean

by Angus McBean
vintage bromide print mounted as a Christmas card, 1963
NPG x131156

Terence Rattigan, by Angus McBean - NPG x134932

Terence Rattigan

by Angus McBean
bromide print, 1963
NPG x134932

Angus McBean, by Angus McBean - NPG x131157

Angus McBean

by Angus McBean
vintage bromide print mounted as a Christmas card, 1964
NPG x131157

Angus McBean, by Angus McBean - NPG x125283

Angus McBean

by Angus McBean
bromide postcard print, 1965
NPG x125283

Angus McBean, by Angus McBean - NPG x127126

Angus McBean

by Angus McBean
vintage bromide print, 1965
NPG x127126

Angus McBean, by Angus McBean - NPG x39313

Angus McBean

by Angus McBean
bromide print photomontage, 1966
NPG x39313

Angus McBean, by Angus McBean - NPG x131158

Angus McBean

by Angus McBean
vintage bromide print mounted as a Christmas card, 1984
NPG x131158

Angus McBean, by Angus McBean - NPG x194342

Angus McBean

by Angus McBean
vintage bromide print, 1984
NPG x194342

Fashion model; Angus McBean, by Angus McBean - NPG x68816

Fashion model; Angus McBean

by Angus McBean
bromide print on photographer's mount, 1984
NPG x68816

Jean Paul Gaultier, by Angus McBean - NPG x128898

Jean Paul Gaultier

by Angus McBean
chromogenic print, 1988
NPG x128898

Dame Vivienne Westwood, by Angus McBean - NPG x128899

Dame Vivienne Westwood

by Angus McBean
chromogenic print, 1988
NPG x128899

Shirley Bassey ('The Fabulous Shirley Bassey'), by Angus McBean, published by  E.M.I. Records Limited - NPG D49504

Shirley Bassey ('The Fabulous Shirley Bassey')

by Angus McBean, published by E.M.I. Records Limited
colour offset lithographic record sleeve, 1959
NPG D49504

Sir Cliff Richard ('Cliff'), by Angus McBean, published by  E.M.I. Records Limited - NPG D49514

Sir Cliff Richard ('Cliff')

by Angus McBean, published by E.M.I. Records Limited
colour offset lithographic record sleeve, 1959
NPG D49514

'The Enchanting Beverley Sisters' (Babs Beverley; Joy Beverley; Teddie Beverley), by Angus McBean, published by  Music for Pleasure Limited - NPG D49505

'The Enchanting Beverley Sisters' (Babs Beverley; Joy Beverley; Teddie Beverley)

by Angus McBean, published by Music for Pleasure Limited
colour offset lithographic record sleeve, reissued 1965 or after, originally published 1960
NPG D49505

Danny Williams ('The Hits of Danny Williams'), by Angus McBean, published by  E.M.I. Records Limited - NPG D49525

Danny Williams ('The Hits of Danny Williams')

by Angus McBean, published by E.M.I. Records Limited
colour offset lithographic record sleeve, 1962
NPG D49525

'Please Please Me' The Beatles (Ringo Starr; Paul McCartney; George Harrison; John Lennon), by Angus McBean, published by  E.M.I. Records Limited - NPG D49510

'Please Please Me' The Beatles (Ringo Starr; Paul McCartney; George Harrison; John Lennon)

by Angus McBean, published by E.M.I. Records Limited
colour offset lithographic record sleeve, 1963
NPG D49510

'Get Back' The Beatles (Paul McCartney; Ringo Starr; Ringo Starr; Ringo Starr), by Angus McBean, published by  Trademark of Quality - NPG D49512

'Get Back' The Beatles (Paul McCartney; Ringo Starr; Ringo Starr; Ringo Starr)

by Angus McBean, published by Trademark of Quality
colour offset lithographic record sleeve, published after 1970
NPG D49512

Web image not currently available

Vera Pearce

by Angus McBean
bromide print, 1938
NPG P924

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Theresa Mackey

03 October 2022, 18:57

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