2011
First Published
4.24
Average Rating
128
Number of Pages
Photographer, costume designer, avid diarist—Cecil Beaton was also a “romantic royalist” whose glittering photographs of Queen Elizabeth II were among the most widely published portraits of the 20th century. This fascinating book explores Beaton’s long relationship with the Queen and the royal family, and describes how his royal portraits shaped the monarchy’s public image from the 1930s to the late 1960s. It is a celebration of Beaton, the enduring flair of his portraits, and the myriad sources of inspiration that resulted in photographs so powerful that they molded the world’s perception of a mother, princess, and monarch. Praise for Queen Elizabeth II: “A book embodying a large piece of 20th century history.” —The Palm Beach Post
Avg Rating
4.24
Number of Ratings
29
5 STARS
41%
4 STARS
48%
3 STARS
7%
2 STARS
0%
1 STARS
3%
goodreads
Author
Cecil Beaton
Author · 16 books
Born in London in 1904, Cecil Beaton's first photographs were of his sisters styled in theatrical decadent costumes. His unique flair for elegance and fantasy lead him to become one of the most successful and influential portrait and fashion photographers of the 20th century. Baron Adolf de Meyer and Edward Steichen were sources of inspiration for him, but he developed a style all his own. He worked for Vogue for over twenty-five years and also became official court photographer to the Royal family in 1937. A constant innovator, Beaton worked for five decades photographing some of the most captivating figures of his time, from Edith Sitwell to the Rolling Stones, Greta Garbo, Jean Cocteau, and Marilyn Monroe. Beaton died in 1980 at the age of 76.
