Identity area
Reference code
Beaton/F/29
Unique identifier
Title
Date(s)
- 6 March 1952 (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
Draft typescript letter, in which Beaton writes that he has heard from Miss Le Maire that Mr Marcus is in Europe and unable to make any firm decision about the backdrop for the Bridal Salon until he returns. Beaton thinks that he will stay until the first week of April, but cannot be certain of that. However, he believes that he may well return in the late summer and would be interested to hear from Mr Marcus at any time. Beaton thinks that the backdrop could be a great success and would be willing to take photographs.