Making a Tribute to Sir Cecil Walter Hardy Beaton, his magnificent talent, eye for detail, love for nature and his original artistic vision on life. Some named him the "British Society Photographer" ,
a national pride he carried throughout his entire life.
***Photograph: Beaton at his home "the
Reddish House" in the garden with one of
his favourite cat ...
Beaton, an extraordinary photographer, who also evolved other skills such as a gardener, painter, interior designer and even won an Oscar for stage, theatre and films costume designer.
He came from an upper working class, they owned a family business of timber named "Beaton Brothers Timber Merchants and Agents" however felt that his family was rather dull and lack of abundance of money as he wished they would have. His mother was a main influence in his life. He had a rather difficult relationship with his father and felt that they hardly shared anything in common. It was until he grew older when he realised the similarities with his personal character that eventually led to greater respect towards his father.
Apparently, his passion for photography started at an early age when he observed one of his mother's photograph post cards of Mrs Lily Elsie, a famous actress and signer. He was captured by her beauty and in particular the photograph portrait as a whole. It was such a strong passion that then since, he began creating his personal collections of photograph post cards. Cecil began by utilising the combination of theatre, glamour style, he visualised what he exactly loved and wanted to manifest. Even managed to encourage his mother and young sisters to make up, dress up and be strictly guided with his artistical ways of sitting and posing in order to create a glamour life style of the upper class "the high society".
Cecil, firstly received a camera at the age of 10 years old, it strongly marked a major new beginning in his life. It has been stated that, his nanny taught him the foundation of taking photographs and developing films. Beaton became more and more ambitious, wanted to be highly respected and recognised for his work. Creating his dream lifestyle of being part of and included in the aristocratic circles was one of his major goals, even if it was not his real family background. He sent letters along with his photographs of his sisters to the fashion magazines however most rejected his offers. Cecil, continued and never gave up until one magazine accepted thus it became a positive initiative of his career as he felt that his was on the right path.
Attending boarding school at an early age was really difficult as he passed through several experiences like bullying. Nevertheless, Beaton studied and achieved what he wanted of which was to be accepted at University of Cambridge. There he studied art, history and architecture. He loved his education days at Cambridge, several doors opened up as he met students from high society and furthermore encouraged his visions of creating "Pretty Young Thing" of which led to marvellous collections of photographs capturing the lifestyle, images and Parties of the Roaring 1920's and 1930's. His photographs of beauty, theatrical luxurious style, sometimes even more enhancing a person's character by being photographed in their home environment. They really enjoyed creating magical scenes even hand made props like a theater, full make up, dressing up in fancy artistical clothes, fun and games of the aristocrats. The Sitwell, a well known aristocrat British family, especially the eccentric Dame Edith L. Sitwell became a classic example of how she sat and posed following Cecil's ideals of which became an extraordinary success. Cecil continuously searched, added, arranged and created theatrical devices or props like for instance balloons, cellophane sheets, paper so as to further enhance beauty, glamour of grand High Society.
The "Bright Young Things" the jazz age, where Cecile managed with his artistical visions to transform to another world of society via his photographs and demonstrate "la joie de vivre" life style of elegance, sophistication of young and beautiful aristocratic circles. Cecil's main purpose was to please himself, creating beauty a fantasy dream world, theatrical ambience and achieving a unique, exclusive style of photography. In 1924, his first photograph was duly published in Vogue magazine and it became a major success.
Purposely Beaton avoided to have a specific photography studio, basically he believed and wanted to be more free to choose where, who to photograph even of what he would like to do with his personal life. He strived to be spontaneous and more creative thus not being influenced by others, just mainly personally guided.
Cecil believed that his discovery was just luck also due to the fact that most celebrities were not artistically photographed the way he created them. Beaton aimed to create a theatrical, fantasy, an imaginary world so as to possibly inspire others. Cecil valued more his time and energy and was quite selective on who and where any photograph may take place, so as to further enhance and capture the individual's character or persona. He personally enjoyed being accompanied by intellectuals as he believed that some influence may brush off towards his ways and become more intelligent and creative.
Beaton's international success became extraordinary as he photographed the famous, the aristocrats, the beautiful, the Royalties his creative unique style of master pieces, glamour, luxury of photography influenced world wide. His personal image was crucial of marketing himself as the best, professional photographer. He highly achieved, became a reputable photographer of portraits of high society, fashion and highly regarded from the British Royal Family. Major international famous, iconic photographs for instance Princess Margaret's birthday in Dior garment and the collection of photographs of the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in the early 1950's.
One of Beaton's personal challenge was to photograph Greta Gabor as she was beautiful famous however did not want and disliked to be photographed. Pain and pleasure, their long affair was quite difficult. Nevertheless, his international success with his artistical, theatrical unique intuition in photography through out decades whether in Fashion, Music Bands, Cinema Films.
He kept and published his diaries, his personal point of views of certain celebrities, aristocrats, royals and their personal habits, ideals and choices is life.
In later years, Cecile's life was rather difficult, mainly accepting that he was getting old. He suffered an unfortunate stroke of which left him paralysed on one side, then decided to have a reclusive life style at his country home, drastically changing to a simpler life of gardening, taking extra care of himself and his pets. He further developed a passion for gardening, by choosing different varieties of flowers, plants, combining these with colours adding a unique ambience along with home decorative objects of which he bought, collected and other different exclusive pieces from antique markets. His house was featured on a well known magazine "House & Garden". One of his favourite cat named "Timothee" passed away and it marked a great loss in his life ...
"Timmy had been a great friend, he had his own ways of which would not have been altered, he liked to sit on this or that chair, he liked to sit on the sunny side of the street" ...
"Imaginative vision against the play-it-safers, the creatures of the common place, the slaves of the ordinary" Sir Cecil Beaton ...
*** Our Vintage inspired products ...
*** Below, 1920's rare interview, Beaton's personal opinion on women's beauty...
***Further below, Beaton's Paintings Exposition ...
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