Identity area
Reference code
Beaton/A/A2/14a/36
Unique identifier
Title
Date(s)
- 18 July 1948 (Circa. Letter dated 'Sunday July 18th'.) (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
Complains about the chaos caused by his home improvements at Reddish House. Describes the death and funeral of his friend, Emerald Cunard. Expresses a lack of interest in the two films for which Alexander Korda wants him to design. Refers to the 'George Sands' project, of which John Sutro is in charge. Considers travelling to Morocco. Worries about his play. Describes his visit to London, including attending a 'Negro Revue', shopping in department stores, meeting Osbert Sitwell at an exhibition.