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An Important Archive of Photographs by Cecil Beaton
Lot 157AR,Ω

Cecil Beaton
(British, 1904-1980)
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

28 November – 16 December 2024, 12:00 GMT
Online, London, Knightsbridge

Sold for £960 inc. premium

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Cecil Beaton (British, 1904-1980)

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, 1955
In ceremonial robes as Sovereign of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, against a backdrop of Windsor Castle, 1955, gelatin silver print, possibly printed later, with photographer's ink-stamp credit to reverse
47 x 38.5cm (18 1/2 x 15 3/16in)

Footnotes

The robes of the Order of the Garter worn here by Queen Elizabeth II were specially commissioned in 1955 in advance of an important 1956 visit to Nigeria.

Of this portrait, Beaton noted in his diary: The pictures in Garter robes...should be good for now I knew how to arrange the lights, and to get the Queen three-quarter face with the head turned sufficiently back for the cheek bone to be clear and flattering.

Martin Charteris, the Queen's then Private Secretary, wrote to Cecil in advance of the meeting to remind him that 'under the terms of the Copyright Act of 1956 the copyright of all photographs taken at the sitting belong to The Queen. So watch it!'

Another example is held at the National Portrait Gallery, NPG P1476.

With thanks to Hugo Vickers in the preparation of this footnote.

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