Identity area
Reference code
Beaton/A/A2/14a/115
Unique identifier
Title
Date(s)
- 6 May 1952 (Circa. Letter dated 'Tuesday April 5th?' but content follows on from letter A2/14a/115.) (Creation)
Level of description
Item
Extent and medium
2 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
Writes that his holiday to Italy was postponed at the last minute because Truman Capote's French driving licence was delayed and Beaton was obliged to start work on design work for Noël Coward's play. Mentions that Hal Burton is helping him. Describes a walk in the countryside. Refers to a dinner party he gave, with a 'mixed bag' of guests. Writes that, although he has gone to London relatively few times, he has seen the best plays, been shopping, and visited an exhibition of Leonardo drawings. Refers to Garbo's 'errand of mercy'. Hopes to meet with her in the near future.