Cecil Beaton (1904-1980)

A large and substantial archive of Beaton's multi-faceted career featuring sketches of his theatrical set and costume designs together with several original watercolors. Beaton's sketchbooks underscore his divergent interests beyond his firm reputation as a photographer. One example features a wide range of drawings, in various stages of completion, depicting the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, while a silk-bound Japanese orihon offers Beaton's "Rough Suggestion for a Production of Madama Butterfly." The holding is complimented by several watercolors, being primarily costume and theatrical scenery, including the costume design for the 1969 Broadway musical, 'Coco', starring Katherine Hepburn as Coco Chanel. A small cache of photographs fills out the collection, including several candid images of Beaton (one with Gary Cooper), mounted images of "Francis Rose in Tamaris near Toulon - September 1938", as well as a small series of mounted photographs identified in manuscript as "Francis [Rose] & Frederica with Donald at 13 Shooters Hill Road, Blackheath October 1943 by Cecil Beaton." Several inscribed photographs include examples from Beaton, Louis Bramfield, André Germain and Mistinguette--all inscribed to Sir Francis Cyril Rose, Bt. (1909-1979), who was partly supported financially by Beaton in his later years.