Identity area
Reference code
Beaton/A/A2/14a/6
Unique identifier
Title
Date(s)
- 25 May 1947 (Circa. Letter undated.) (Creation)
Level of description
Item
Extent and medium
9 p. paper
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Photographer, artist, writer, and designer of scenery and costumes. Educated at Harrow and St John's College, Cambridge, 1922-5. Made his name as a photographer through portraits of the Sitwells. Employed by Vogue in London and New York. Published 'The Book of Beauty' (1930). Photographed the Duke of Windsor's wedding, 1937. War photographer, 1939-45. Designed 'Lady Windermere's Fan', 1945. Designed costumes for 'An Ideal Husband' and 'Anna Karenina', 1948. Worked on 'The School for Scandal', 1949, 'Quadrille' for Noel Coward, 1952, 'Turandot', 1961, and 'La Traviata', 1966. Designed costumes for 'My Fair Lady', 1956, and for the film version in Hollywood, 1963. His play 'The Gainsborough Girls', 1951 and 1959, was unsuccessful. Published 'The Glass of Fashion' (1954), and six volumes of diaries. Exhibited photographs at the National Portrait Gallery, 1968. Knighted 1972.
Repository
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Details the outcome of his shopping trip in Paris. Writes that he found a flea market in Paris for the first time since the War but the London one has not returned having been dispersed during the air raids. Critiques plays directed by Louis Jouvet, including 'The Maids'. Describes the 'Anna Karenina' costume fittings for Vivien Leigh. Reports the progress of Alexander Korda's 'An Ideal Husband'. Gives his opinion of California. Describes his Whitsun holiday to Stratford-upon-Avon. Writes that he is staying with Juliet Duff and the other guest is Mr Maugham. Postscript, Whit Monday: describes being woken by an otter hunt. Describes the Chelsea Flower Show. Mentions Reddish House.