Angus McBean
(1904-1990), PhotographerSitter 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.
by Angus McBean
gelatin silver print, late 1930s
NPG x202586
- Use this image
- Recent acquisition
by Angus McBean
halftone reproduction tear sheet, published 27 April 1938
NPG x193309
by Angus McBean
halftone reproduction tear sheet, published 25 September 1946
NPG x137544
by Angus McBean
halftone reproduction tear sheet, published 8 May 1946
NPG x193315
by Angus McBean
halftone reproduction tear sheet, published 23 October 1946
NPG x193326
Roderick Jones as Scarpia in 'Tosca'
by Angus McBean
halftone reproduction tear sheet, published 18 December 1946
NPG x193327
Victoria Sladen as Tosca in 'Tosca'
by Angus McBean
halftone reproduction tear sheet, published 18 December 1946
NPG x193328
by Angus McBean
halftone reproduction tear sheet, published 18 August 1948
NPG x137534
by Angus McBean
halftone reproduction tear sheet, published 21 July 1948
NPG x137538
by Angus McBean
halftone reproduction tear sheet, published 5 May 1948
NPG x137540
Raymond Charles Robertson-Glasgow
by Angus McBean
halftone reproduction tear sheet, published 8 September 1948
NPG x137543
by Angus McBean
halftone reproduction tear sheet, published 7 January 1948
NPG x193335
by Angus McBean
halftone reproduction tear sheet, published 26 May 1948
NPG x193338
Marjorie Bowen (Mrs Gabrielle Margaret Vere Long)
by Angus McBean
halftone reproduction tear sheet, published 30 June 1948
NPG x193340
by Angus McBean
halftone reproduction tear sheet, published 8 September 1948
NPG x193341
Hermione Gingold in 'Slings and Arrows'
by Angus McBean
halftone reproduction tear sheet, published 24 September 1948
NPG x193344
by Angus McBean
halftone reproduction tear sheet, published 23 February 1949
NPG x193346
Jane Wyman (Sarah Jane Mayfield)
by Angus McBean
halftone reproduction tear sheet, published 27 July 1949
NPG x193360
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.
Theresa Mackey
03 October 2022, 18:57
Yes. My great aunt Gladys had all of his personal Christmas Cards. She was his PA.