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
$395
H 10 in W 11.25 in D 0.5 in
19th C Royal Couple; Pair Chinese Pith Paintings Qing Dynasty. China, Circa 1855
Located in Incline Village, NV
Lovely and authentic all original mid 19th century pair of small Chinese Pith Paintings; under glass and double matted in a single plain narrow black straight reeded trimmed wooden f...
Watercolor, Rice Paper
$420
H 10.13 in W 12.25 in D 0.5 in
Mid 19th Century Performative Themed Chinese Framed Watercolor On Pith Paper
Located in Incline Village, NV
This circa 1855 Chinese hand painted pith painting portrays a Chinese tradition of a celebratory warrior dance to display fighting dominance; the two parties being a typical warrior ...
Watercolor, Rice Paper
$807
H 12.21 in W 9.45 in
Colorful Figurative Woman Playing Mandolin, Expressionist Gouache on Paper
By Menachem Gueffen
Located in NANTES, FR
This gouache on paper executed in 1988 by Menachem Gueffen depicts a female musician holding a mandolin within an interior setting opening onto a stylized landscape. The vertical com...
Paper, Gouache
$785
H 8.5 in W 10.5 in D 0.63 in
Six Diminutive 19thC. Qing Chinese Pith Paintings Mounted in (3) Matching Frames
Located in Incline Village, NV
Difficult to find set of six diminutive mid 19th century Qing Dynasty hand painted Chinese Pith watercolor paintings; prepared for the tourist trade; depicting mores and customs of C...
Watercolor, Rice Paper
$1,800
H 7 in W 8.5 in
"Ballerina and Horse" Watercolor: Woman Circus Performer, Blue Tutu, Gray Animal
By Gustav Likan 1
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
$795
H 9.38 in W 7.25 in D 1.38 in
19thC Chinese Pair of Pith Paintings "Emperor Xianfeng & Consort Qing" C.1855
Located in Incline Village, NV
Fabulous pair of mid 19th century Qing Dynasty hand painted watercolor Chinese Pith paintings; subjects attributed to Emperor Xianfeng and Consort Qing. Emperor Xianfeng was the 8th ...
Watercolor, Rice Paper
$895
H 11.5 in W 9.75 in D 1 in
Chinese Watercolor Pith Painting Circa 1852 "Consort Being Served Tea" by Eunuch
Located in Incline Village, NV
Superb quality to this mid 19th century Chinese watercolor pith painting depicting a consort (perhaps one of Emperor Xianfeng's), being served tea by her personal and loyal eunuch; b...
Watercolor, Rice Paper
$7,716
H 19.3 in W 25.6 in
Antonius Johannes KRISTIANS (1883-1957), "At the Bar"
Located in Paris, FR
- Gouache on paper. - Signed at bottom left. - Around 1920. Dimensions H : 49 cm L : 65 cm/H : 19.3 in W : 25.6 in (unframed) H : 67 cm L : 87 cm/H: 26.38 in W: 34.25 in (with frame)
Paper, Gouache
$17,284
H 9.26 in W 13 in
China Export Watercolour on Pith Paper: A Set of Twelve Processions
Located in London, London
[China Export Water-colours on Pith Paper] A Set of Twelve Processions. China, ca. 1870]. Water-colour and gouache studies on pith paper, framed by blue silk ribbon, all mounted. ...
Watercolor, Rice Paper
$995
H 15 in W 12.25 in D 1 in
Fine Quality Three Character Mid-19thC Framed Chinese Watercolor Pith Painting
Located in Incline Village, NV
Fine quality three character mid 19th century (circa 1850) watercolor on pith paper; a Chinese painting; depicting an Emperor with. perhaps, a concubine by his side and a page or eun...
Watercolor, Rice Paper
$2,500
H 13.5 in W 10.5 in
Minimalist Watercolor Painting of Orientalist Dancer
Located in New York, NY
Gypsie Dancer by Federico Fernandez y Giminez (1846-1873) Watercolor on paper, signed 'F. Fernandez Giminez' lower right. Diffused and hazy brushwork defines this work as the woman sits in a gestured garden depicted in stark contrast to her detailed clothing and jewelry. Instead of crafting an intricately detailed background similar to the famous Jean-Léon Gérôme, Giminez pins our focus on the figure, providing soft atmospheric gestures of background elements, hi lighting the details of oriental clothing...
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