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
$8,000
H 38.75 in W 20.6 in D 4 in
Standing Guard Orientalist Watercolor by Antonio Gargiullo
Located in New York, NY
Orientalist watercolor of a guard standing watch. He stands at the ready, attentively listening while resting his hand on his sash which holds a sheathe...
Paper, Watercolor
Wedding in Jerusalem
By Zvi Raphaeli
Located in Saratoga Springs, NY
Signed lower left. Provenance: Private Collection, Boca Raton, Florida Zwi Raphaeli was an Israeli impressionist painter. He studied in Paris at the Beaux-Arts and the Bezalel Acad...
Paper, Gouache
Mother and Child
Located in New York, NY
Watercolor on paper laid on board: An exceptional watercolor in terms of quality and presentation. During this earlier period of Day's career he exhibited extensively and was inspir...
Watercolor, Board, Archival Paper
Rise Blue Butterfly Ink Watercolor on Paper
By Keith Carrington
Located in Lake Worth Beach, FL
Rise Blue Butterfly Watercolor, ink on archival paper Keith Carrington’s experiences have led him to express his talents through the fluid & exactin...
Ink, Watercolor, Archival Paper
$653
H 23.63 in W 19.69 in D 1.58 in
Madras Collection of Watercolour Drawings on Paper and Card India early 20th C
Located in Norfolk, GB
Collection of three large watercolours two of which are framed. With 15 other ink drawings by the fabulous Irish Artist Ismaena R Warren, a prolific book illustrator. All made in Mad...
Paper, Watercolor, India Ink, Acrylic
One of The Thieves Was Saved
By Wes Olmsted
Located in Buffalo, NY
"One of The Thieves Was Saved" from Waiting for Godot by Samuel Becket An original watercolor painting by Westley "Wes" Olmsted. This work is currently featured in the exhibition ...
Archival Paper, Watercolor
$1,800
H 7 in W 8.5 in
"Ballerina and Horse" Watercolor: Woman Circus Performer, Blue Tutu, Gray Animal
Located in Austin, TX
Watercolor on Paper Page Size: 7 x 8.5 in. Frame Size: 13 x 15 in. Hand signed and dated in pencil, bottom left A vibrant watercolor painting that captures a dynamic, expressive mom...
Watercolor, Archival Paper
Look Jane Ink Watercolor on Paper
By Keith Carrington
Located in Lake Worth Beach, FL
Look Jane, ink, watercolor on archival paper. From the new series. Jane and Dick conversation. Keith Carrington’s experiences have led him to express his talents through the fluid &...
Ink, Watercolor, Archival Paper
$14,500
H 19 in W 24 in D 1 in
"Beagles" Early 19th C. Country People & Dogs. Rockefeller Provenance
By Thomas Rowlandson
Located in San Francisco, CA
Originally the property of Mrs. John D. Rockefeller, Jr., this watercolor scene, depicting a group of ordinary, early 19th-century English folk and their dogs resting in the shade, p...
Watercolor, Paper
Feelin Good Ink On Paper
By Keith Carrington
Located in Lake Worth Beach, FL
Feelin Good, Ink on archival paper. Keith Carrington’s experiences have led him to express his talents through the fluid & exacting mediums of watercolor and ink. He has honed his s...
Ink, Watercolor, Archival Paper
Famous Expatriates
By Jed Jackson
Located in Buffalo, NY
Jed Jackson received his MFA from Cornell University in Ithaca, NY, 1980 and his BFA from Memphis College of Art in Tennessee, 1977 and was awarded a residency at the Skowhegan Schoo...
Gouache, Paper
Watching the Geese
Located in Belgravia, London, London
Watercolour on paper Paper size: 9.5 x 6.5 inches Framed size: 17.75 x 14.25 inches Signed lower left
Paper, Watercolor
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