Identity area
Reference code
Beaton/A/A2/14a/29
Unique identifier
Title
Date(s)
- 4 May 1948 (Circa. Letter dated 'May 4th Tuesday'.) (Creation)
Level of description
Item
Extent and medium
4 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
Worries about the nearness of death. Speculates that these concerns have been brought on by the impending death of his elderly female friend and neighbour, and a visit from his youngest sister who now has children. Details his activities at Reddish and during a two night stay in London. Suggests that he and Garbo stay with David in Morocco. Writes that he is enjoying not being involved in filmmaking. Refers to his inheritance from an aunt. Postscript: News that a wasps' nest has just been found in his roof.