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.
Cecil Beaton: 1904-1980 by Electa Editrice Publishers
By Cecil Beaton
Located in New York, NY
"Cecil Beaton (1904-1980)", Published by Electa Editrice Portfolios, 16.25 x 12.50, 1982 A portfolio of twelve heliogravure plates with tissue guard-leaves and limitation leaflet wi...
Photographic Film
$2,903
H 15.75 in W 15.75 in D 0.08 in
Ben 2 -Signed limited edition contemporary, Black white, Homoerotic photography
By Ian Sanderson
Located in Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona
An original signed archival pigment print on Hahnemühle Photo Rag® Baryta 315 gsm paper by Scottish artist Ian Sanderson (1951- 2020) titled ‘Ben 2 ‘ who was captured on film in 1989...
Photographic Film, Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, Black and White, ...
$2,904
H 20.48 in W 13.78 in D 0.08 in
Old couple - Signed limited edition fine art print, Black white, Paris Vintage
By Ian Sanderson
Located in Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona
Old couple, Paris - Signed limited edition archival pigment print - Edition of 5 This image was captured on film. The negative was scanned creating...
Photographic Film, Archival Paper, Black and White, Giclée, Pigment, Arc...
$3,485
H 19.3 in W 29.53 in D 0.08 in
L'Amour- Romantic, Signed limited edition fine art, Sensual, Beach, Contemporary
By Ian Sanderson
Located in Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona
L' Amour - Signed limited edition archival pigment print , 1993 - Edition of 5 This image was captured on film. The negative was scanned creating a digital file which was the...
Archival Paper, Black and White, Archival Pigment, Photographic Film, Pi...
$4,064
H 29.14 in W 40.01 in D 0.08 in
Mathew 2 Archival Pigment Print, Signed, Limited Edition, Contemporary
By Ian Sanderson
Located in Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona
An original signed archival pigment print on Hahnemühle Photo Rag® Baryta 315 gsm paper by Scottish artist Ian Sanderson (1951- 2020) titled ‘ Mathew 2 ‘ who was captured on film in...
Photographic Film, Archival Paper, Black and White, Giclée, Pigment, Arc...
$2,903
H 14.57 in W 19.69 in D 0.08 in
Ben-Signed limited edition fine art print, Black white photo, Analog, Homoerotic
By Ian Sanderson
Located in Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona
Ben - Signed limited edition archival pigment print, 1996 - Edition of 5 This image was captured on film. The negative was scanned creating a digital file which was then printed...
Archival Paper, Archival Pigment, Black and White, Photographic Film, Pi...
$2,903
H 21.66 in W 15.75 in D 0.08 in
Rachael - Signed limited edition, Underwear, Woman wit High heels and Suspenders
By Ian Sanderson
Located in Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona
Rachael - Signed limited edition archival pigment print - Edition of 5 This image was captured on film in 1983. The negative was scanned creating a digital file which was then...
Archival Paper, Black and White, Archival Pigment, Photographic Film, Pi...
$3,484
H 37.8 in W 27.56 in D 0.08 in
Rachael - Signed limited edition sexy print, Contemporary, Black High Heels
By Ian Sanderson
Located in Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona
Rachael - Signed limited edition archival pigment print - Edition of 5 This image was captured on film in 1983. The negative was scanned creating a digital file which was then...
Archival Paper, Black and White, Giclée, Archival Pigment, Photographic ...
$3,484
H 29.53 in W 21.26 in D 0.08 in
Christian - Original Photo, Signed limited edition fine art print, Homoerotic
By Ian Sanderson
Located in Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona
Christian - Signed limited edition archival pigment print, 1984 - Edition of 5, Unframed This image was captured on film. The negative was scanned creating a digital file which w...
Photographic Film, Archival Paper, Black and White, Pigment, Archival Pi...
$2,903
H 19.69 in W 14.18 in D 0.08 in
Christian - Signed limited edition fine art print, Black white photo, Homoerotic
By Ian Sanderson
Located in Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona
Christian - Signed limited edition archival pigment print, 1984 - Edition of 5 This image was captured on film. The negative was scanned creating a digital file which was then pr...
Photographic Film, Archival Paper, Black and White, Pigment, Archival Pi...
$2,903
H 20.87 in W 13.78 in D 0.08 in
Paris Romance- Signed limited edition couple print, Black white, Contemporary
By Ian Sanderson
Located in Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona
Paris Romance - Signed limited edition archival pigment print - Edition of 5 This image was captured on film in 1994 in Paris, Champs-Elysées front ...
Archival Paper, Archival Pigment, Black and White, Photographic Film, Pi...
$4,064
H 40.16 in W 29.93 in D 0.08 in
Umbrella -Signed limited edition still life print, Black white photo, Contemporary
By Ian Sanderson
Located in Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona
Girl with Umbrella - Signed limited edition archival pigment print, 1998 - Edition of 5 This image was captured on film. The negative was scanned creating a digital file which ...
Archival Paper, Black and White, Archival Pigment, Photographic Film, Pi...
$2,903
H 21.66 in W 14.18 in D 0.08 in
Lisa - Signed limited edition contemporary print, Back white photo, Sensual
By Ian Sanderson
Located in Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona
Lisa - Signed limited edition archival pigment print - Edition of 5 ( Available : 4 ) This image was captured on film. The negative was scanned creating a digital file which...
Archival Paper, Black and White, Archival Pigment, Photographic Film, Gi...