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BEATON Cecil

Sir Cecil Walter Hardy Beaton.

Date of birth : January 14, 1904, London.

Date of death : January 18, 1980, Broadchalke, near Salisbury, England.

 

Portrait ,,.

 

Profession photographer and set-designer for the English theater.

 

Story

He studied at Harrow and St.John's College at Cambridge University.

Cecil Beaton interest for photography came to light during his childhood when he began, following his nanny advice, to take his sisters in picture.

Very soon he developed a predilection for the sophisticated and stylish portraits inspired by his predecessors like Baron de Meyer or Edward Steichen.

With materials of stunning effects, mirrors or cellophane for instance, Beaton built splendid sets in front of which he made some of his family members posed in elegant costumes.
It wasn't such the people or the clothes which interested him than the esthetic atmosphere of the general context. There, his second talent demonstrated itself, the set-designer and theater costumes designer, which he would fully develop later, between 1940 and 1970.

His first picture exhibition took place in a little-known London art gallery in 1926 and was a big success which brought him a contract with Vogue magazine, for which he would work as fashion photographer until the middle of the 50's.
At the same time, he worked for Harper's Bazaar magazine.
 

In the Hollywood of the 30's, he made some stars portraits who he made posed in an unreal atmospehere of disused bachstage.

In 1937, he was nominated official photographer of the Royal family and worked as photographer for the British Ministry of Information during the Second World War.

His experience changed the style of his portraits which became, after the war, less affected, less charged, and brought more naturalness and clearness.

 

Pictures 

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He collaborated to movie sets. Besides, he received 2 Oscars (academy Awards) for "Gigi" (1958) and "My Fair Lady" (1964).

He took Marilyn in pictures for Harper's Bazaar magazine on February 22, 1956; for this occasion, he made one of Marilyn's favorite picture : wearing a white dress, she's lying in white sheets and holds an long-stem

carnation on her breast :

This picture was hung in the living-room of her New Yrok apartment, 444 East 57th Street.

Letter to Marilyn dated May 9, 1956  ,

 

Marilyn ordered severals copies she sent to her acquaintances : ;.

At the Ambassador Hotel, New York

With  Cecil Beaton 

carnation

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bird 

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black dress 

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Flower

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Coat 

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Carnation 

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With the bird

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Black dress 

sofa

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armchair ,,

                                             

other

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With her press agent, Lois Weber ,,

          

In 1972, he was knighted by the Queen of England.  

 

Bibliography

" Photographs 1920-1970 ". New York, Stewart, Tabori and Chang Publishers, 1995.


Website

National Portrait Gallery

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