The work of the photographer, theatrical designer, narcissist, snob, careerist, and exceptionally talented Cecil Beaton (1904-1980), including 18,000 vintage prints, negatives and transparencies, contact sheets and 45 books of cuttings are at the Victoria & Albert Museum. They have all been brilliantly culled for the alluring and significant exhibition of some of Beaton's royal portraits, billed as A Diamond Jubilee Celebration.
Sir Roy Strong put Beaton firmly back on the map after he had gone out of fashion with a dazzling 1968 compilation at the National Portrait Gallery. He is firmly of the view that Beaton's imagery of the royals saved the royals as far as the public were concerned after the debacle of the abdication. Indeed, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother wrote to Beaton in 1963 thanking him for "producing us as really quite nice and real people". "Producing" is the operative verb: Beaton staged the royals. The V&A's presentation shows us just how much Beaton has made his view of the royals ours.
(Tags : Queen Elizabeth II by Cecil Beaton: A Diamond Jubilee Celebration, Victoria & Albert Museum: Through the Lens, Book 3 (Unabridged) Marina Vaizey Audiobook, Marina Vaizey Audio CD )
