Cecil Beaton developed a distinctive style of photography where the subject was immersed in backgrounds made of unusual materials such as paper-mâché or aluminum foil. A socialite who rubbed elbows with royalty, celebrities and the wealthy aristocracy, the British photographer captured some of the most famous names of his time.
Beaton was born in London in 1904 to a successful lumber merchant and amateur actor. He received his first camera as a gift at age 11. Beaton later attended St. John’s College in Cambridge and studied art, history and architecture. He dropped out in 1925 and went to work in the family lumber business, but his free time was spent absorbed in photography.
Beaton befriended Sir Osbert Sitwell, who was captivated by his photographs and funded his first exhibition. It was an immediate sensation, leading to work with major magazines.
With a photography contract from Condé Nast, Beaton left for New York. By the end of the 1920s, he had worked as a staff photographer for Vanity Fair and Vogue. He continued to cultivate his unique portraiture style and published his work in several books. One of his greatest achievements was a commission from the British Royal Family in 1939, a relationship which endured for decades. During World War II, he served as a wartime photographer in Africa and East Asia.
After the war, Beaton returned to private portrait commissions. He also began designing costumes and sets for theater and the silver screen, winning an Academy Award for Best Costume Design for Gigi and awards for costume design and art direction for My Fair Lady. He also won costume design Tony awards for the Broadway shows Quadrille, My Fair Lady, Saratoga and Coco.
Beaton designed the sets and costumes for a production of the opera Turandot at the Metropolitan Opera in New York and then at Covent Garden, London. His diaries, which were scrapbooks of his life and interests, have garnered wide interest, and several volumes of them have been published.
On 1stDibs, find Cecil Beaton’s photography, drawings and watercolors, paintings and more.
$7,500
The Second Mrs Tanqueray Act III 1950 Haymarket Theatre Costume Watercolour by C
By Cecil Beaton
Located in Bristol, CT
Sir Arthur Wing Pinero's "The Second Mrs Tanqueray" Act III, signed Beaton (MR) from the Haymarket Theatre, London 1950 stage production. Provenance: Palm Beach Galleries...
Paper, Watercolor
Untitled: Abstract Figure and Leaves
By Gio Colucci
Located in Berlin, MD
Gio Colucci (Italian 1892-1974) Untitled: Abstract Figure and Leaves. Gouache on paper laid down on matt board. Archival framing under glass. Originally from the Con-Agra Corporat...
Gouache, Laid Paper
$716Sale Price|20% Off
H 22 in W 28 in D 0.75 in
Oregon Trail, Vintage 1970s Western Figural Landscape
Located in Soquel, CA
Evocative oil painting of pioneers traveling by wagon train across the vast western plains by California artist Harry Roerade (American 1908-1987), circa 1...
Paper, Watercolor
$355
H 5.12 in W 4.34 in
Tulips. Gouache Painting, Abstract, Figurative, Flowers, Polish art
By Bożena Lesiak
Located in Warsaw, PL
Contemporary floral still life figurative gouache on paper painting by Polish artist Bozena Lesiak. Painting is in a small format. Bozena Lesiak's art embodies beauty of nature and i...
Paper, Gouache
Still-life of fruits on a marble entablature
Located in BELEYMAS, FR
Attributed to Pancrace BESSA (1772-1846) Fruits on a marble entablature Watercolor and graphite on paper H. 31 cm; W. 37 cm
Paper, Watercolor
$3,825
H 8 in W 8 in D 1 in
The Flower Water colour on Paper Grey, Brown by Indian Artist"In Stock"
By Badri Narayan
Located in Kolkata, West Bengal
Badri Narayan The Flower Water colour on Paper 8 x 8 inches 20.3 x 20.3 cm 8th April 1993 ( Framed & Delivered ) This work features in the Book on Badrinarayan Written by Ms. ...
Paper, Watercolor
$1,400Sale Price|20% Off
H 24 in W 18 in D 1 in
Forest Tattoo by Anne Siems, Portrait painting with tattoo drawing, on paper
By Anne Siems
Located in Dallas, TX
Anne Siems has created this stunning watercolor on Strathmore Cold press paper. All archival materials. Paper size: 24x18 inches Suggested Frame size: 30x24x1.5 inch (frame is not ...
Watercolor, Archival Paper
$1,400Sale Price|20% Off
H 24 in W 18 in D 1 in
Forest Lover by Anne Siems, Portrait painting with tattoo drawing, on paper
By Anne Siems
Located in Dallas, TX
Anne Siems has created this stunning watercolor on Strathmore Cold press paper. All archival materials. Paper size: 24x18 inches Suggested Frame size: 30x24x1.5 inch ANNE SIEMS (...
Watercolor, Archival Paper
$1,400Sale Price|20% Off
H 24 in W 18 in D 1 in
"Forest 1" by Anne Siems, Portrait painting with tattoo drawing, on paper
By Anne Siems
Located in Dallas, TX
Anne Siems has created this stunning watercolor on Strathmore Cold press paper. All archival materials. Paper size: 24x18 inches Suggested Frame size: 30x24x1.5 inch ANNE SIEMS (...
Watercolor, Archival Paper
$548Sale Price|20% Off
H 22 in W 26.5 in D 1 in
Tree of Life in the Garden - Visionary art by Tom Fath
By Tom Fath
Located in Soquel, CA
Expressive Visionary Watercolor and Gouache painting of the Tree of Life by Tom Fath (American, 20th Century). Signed lower right "Tom Fath" and on verso paper backing. Exhibited: 20...
Watercolor, Gouache, Laid Paper
$11,000
H 11.62 in W 13.87 in
Fauve Landscape French Market Scene by Female American Artist
Located in Miami, FL
Elsie Palmer Payne was an American Female artist who, in her youth, made several trips to Europe. This French market scene is characterized by a Fau...
Paper, Gouache
Monterey Bay Crab Fisherman
Located in Soquel, CA
Gorgeous earth-toned figurative watercolor painting of Monterey crab fishing by James Tazewell Hughins (American, 1922-2009), circa 1980. Signed ...
Paper, Watercolor
$975
H 18.5 in W 10.5 in D 0.5 in
Statue of an Ascetic (The Hermit) - Figurative Landscape
By Theodore Ernest Langguth
Located in Soquel, CA
A vintage watercolor capturing a statue of an ascetic in a garden by Theodore Ernest Langguth (German-American, 1861-1952). 1915-20. Signed "T. Langguth" in lower left. Presented in ...
Watercolor, Laid Paper
An Athlete
By Cecil Beaton
Located in London, GB
Oil on board, signed (lower right), 56cm x 41cm, (64cm x 49cm framed). The pictures is good condition, which has been cleaned recently. The frame is the original frame, which althoug...
Oil, Board
"Cecil Beaton Self -Portrait"
By Cecil Beaton
Located in Bristol, CT
Cecil Beaton, signed verso & (stamped Fotografia de IIugo Rodrigo Octavio), Self-Portrait Art Sz: 6.75" x 8.75" Frame Sz: 12" x 14"
Silver Gelatin