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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that this website contains images of deceased persons.

The incomparable Beaton

To accompany the exhibition Cecil Beaton: Portraits, held at the NPG in 2005, this article is drawn from Hugo Vickers's authorised biography, Cecil Beaton (1985).

More information on The incomparable Beaton

Selected images

6 images
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Eileen Dunne in The Hospital for Sick Children, 1940
Eileen Dunne in The Hospital for Sick Children, 1940
Marilyn Monroe, 1956
Marilyn Monroe, 1956
Baba Beaton: A Symphony in Silver, 1925 by Cecil Beaton
Baba Beaton: A Symphony in Silver, 1925 by Cecil Beaton
Katharine Hepburn, by Cecil Beaton, 1935 publ. July 1935. Credit: The Cecil Beaton Studio Archive at Sotheby's, London
Katharine Hepburn, by Cecil Beaton, 1935 publ. July 1935.
Credit: The Cecil Beaton Studio Archive at Sotheby's, London
Johnny Weissmuller, 1932 by Cecil Beaton
Johnny Weissmuller, 1932 by Cecil Beaton
Marilyn Monroe, 1956 by Cecil Beaton
Marilyn Monroe, 1956
 by Cecil Beaton
6 images
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Related information

Eileen Dunne in The Hospital for Sick Children, 1940 by Cecil Beaton
Eileen Dunne in The Hospital for Sick Children, 1940 by Cecil Beaton
Eileen Dunne in The Hospital for Sick Children, 1940 by Cecil Beaton
Eileen Dunne in The Hospital for Sick Children, 1940 by Cecil Beaton

Cecil Beaton

Portraits

Previous exhibition, 2005

Accomplished illustrator, painter, writer and diarist, set designer and one of the most distinguished photographers of the twentieth century, Cecil Beaton is renowned for his portraits of well known faces from the worlds of fashion, literature, and film.
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance

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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

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