Cecil Beaton
Photographer
Born in London in 1904, Cambridge-educated Cecil Beaton made his name as a photographer of theatrical, royal and society luminaries. Beaton set up his own studio, and one of his earliest clients (and later best friends) was Stephen Tennant. Beaton's photographs of Tennant and his circle are considered some of the best representations of the Bright Young Things of the twenties and thirties.
Beaton began designing for the stage in 1935 and for films in 1941, winning Oscars for the flowing elegance of his costume design for Gigi (1958) and his art direction in My Fair Lady (1964). Beaton worked as a staff photographer for Vanity Fair and Vogue, in addition to photographing celebrities in Hollywood. Furthermore, he was honoured as the official photographer to the Royal Family.
During the Second World War, Cecil Beaton worked for the British Ministry of Information as a documentary photographer. He was made a CBE in 1957 and knighted in 1972. Famous for his portraits and idolatry of Greta Garbo, he was the author of seven volumes of autobiography and the subject of several biographies. He passed away in 1980.
Born in London in 1904, Cambridge-educated Cecil Beaton made his name as a photographer of theatrical, royal and society luminaries. Beaton set up his own studio, and one of his earliest clients (and later best friends) was Stephen Tennant. Beaton's photographs of Tennant and his circle are considered some of the best representations of the Bright Young Things of the twenties and thirties.
Beaton began designing for the stage in 1935 and for films in 1941, winning Oscars for the flowing elegance of his costume design for Gigi (1958) and his art direction in My Fair Lady (1964). Beaton worked as a staff photographer for Vanity Fair and Vogue, in addition to photographing celebrities in Hollywood. Furthermore, he was honoured as the official photographer to the Royal Family.
During the Second World War, Cecil Beaton worked for the British Ministry of Information as a documentary photographer. He was made a CBE in 1957 and knighted in 1972. Famous for his portraits and idolatry of Greta Garbo, he was the author of seven volumes of autobiography and the subject of several biographies. He passed away in 1980.
