Identity area
Reference code
Beaton/A/A2/14a/58
Unique identifier
Title
Date(s)
- 16 May 1949 (Circa. Letter dated 'Monday May 16th'.) (Creation)
Level of description
Item
Extent and medium
7 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 amusements he has recently attended in London including attending a production of 'The beaux' stratagem', with Clarissa Churchill, and a poetical play about a witch [probably 'The lady's not for burning'] starring John Gielgud. Mentions that the Oliviers are angry with him for not congratulating them on their production of 'Richard III'. Refers to a lunch he gave Diana Cooper, who was visiting from Paris. Describes, in detail, his stay with Henry George Alfred Marius Victor Francis Herbert (1898-1987), sixth earl of Carnarvon, including the stories that the earl told about his father, the fifth earl, George Edward Stanhope Molyneux Herbert. Repeats news of Garbo told to him by Daisy Fellowes. Suggests that Garbo visit him in England. Mentions a dinner party that he attended at Juliet [Duff]'s house. Postscript: Details what he has done since lunch. Wishes Garbo was with him.