Identity area
Reference code
Beaton/A/A2/14a/79
Unique identifier
Title
Date(s)
- 14 May 1950 (Circa. Letter dated 'Sunday morning'. Date derived from its place in the sequence of letters.) (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
Tells Garbo how 'delightful' the photo he took of her at their 'last luncheon' looks. Describes Spring in the countryside, including a picnic at Romsey College in a blue bell wood and gardens of azalea, rhododendron and camellia. Wishes Garbo was in England. News that the headmaster of Romsey College is appearing at the Winchester assizes. Mentions that the vicar and his wife came to tea. Writes that he is going to walk the dog with a young man who has been giving him advice about playwriting. Dislikes the prospect of returning to London the following day. Some pages missing?