Identity area
Reference code
Beaton/F/21
Unique identifier
Title
Date(s)
- 2 May 1939 (Creation)
Level of description
Item
Extent and medium
1p 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
Incomplete letter, in which Beaton thanks Lambert for all her letters, cheques and advice. The American critic Gilbert Seldes (1893-1970) has warned Beaton that since Walter Winchell (1897-1972) is so popular with the public at present, it may be unwise to try to sue him for damages. Gertrude Stein (1874-1946) says that the very last thing he should do is to sue. However, Beaton is seeking some legal advice since he wants to clear his reputation. He finds that some of his Jewish friends now believe him to be a Fascist, but as a patriotic Englishman, he cannot be truly deemed to be so. Second page is missing.