Identity area
Reference code
Beaton/A/A2/14a/120
Unique identifier
Title
Date(s)
- 12 Apr. 1954 (Creation)
Level of description
Item
Extent and medium
3 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
Wonders how Garbo is doing in her 'Luxury East River apartment'. Writes a 'word painting' of himself as he is at the moment he is writing. Outlines his plans to enlarge his house and garden, and possibly buy the pink cottage and rent it furnished, as his finances allow. Refers to his few business trips to London, where he had lunch with 'the little gipsy' (Pamela Berry), the Salisburys and Ann Fleming. Mentions his household staff, including the French cook at Pelham Place, and Mrs Murdoch. Enthuses about Spring. Writes of his mother's ill health. Considers taking a short holiday but is content to stay at Reddish and work. Refers to the impending arrival of Waldemar Hansen. Worries about Garbo's situation. Wishes she would show friendship to Mercedes de Acosta. Encourages her to fly to England. Sends news of Clarissa and Anthony Eden, including Clarissa's miscarriage.