Identity area
Reference code
Beaton/A/A2/14a/49
Unique identifier
Title
Date(s)
- 6 Mar 1949–7 Mar 1949 (Circa. Letter dated 'Sunday March 6th' and later 'March 7th Monday'.) (Creation)
Level of description
Item
Extent and medium
5 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
Complains of bad weather and a bad cold. Reports that he has been in London to arrange and open an exhibition, to see Lawrence Olivier's production of 'School for scandal' which he designed, and to make arrangements for his Gainsborough play to be produced. Mentions he may design for Wendy Hiller's new play. Sends news of Clarissa Churchill and her new cottage, Michael Duff and Juliet Duff. Enthuses about the novel, 'Adolphe', quoting a passage that reminded him of his time with Garbo, but advises Garbo that she should not star in a film version. Likens Garbo to Empress Elizabeth.