Identity area
Reference code
Beaton/A/A2/14a/32
Unique identifier
Title
Date(s)
- 8 June 1948 (Circa. Letter dated 'Tuesday morning. June?'.) (Creation)
Level of description
Item
Extent and medium
5 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
Announces that he is working on a play about Gainsborough. Describes Bebe's [Christian Berard] visit and their attendance at the Duchess of Kent's fancy dress party. Details his activities during his visit to London, including meeting with his 'Greek friend' and George Cukor. Invites Garbo to stay with him. Postscript: Details of his life back at Reddish House, including tea with Juliet Duff, George Cukor and John Gielgud.