Beaton Hive Mind - 6 Sept by https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e fun, quirky, unusual, weird, whatever goes... en-us 2025-09-02 14:21:38 UTC 2025-09-17 09:19:39 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet.net/icons/8.0/svg/1f4f8.svg NPGYouth https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3565113865 2025-09-02 14:27:51 UTC https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3565113865 NPGYouth https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3565114893 2025-09-02 14:28:27 UTC https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3565114893 NPGYouth https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3565117453 2025-09-02 14:29:43 UTC https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3565117453 NPGYouth https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3565118631 2025-09-02 14:30:35 UTC https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3565118631 NPGYouth https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3565119521 2025-09-02 14:31:13 UTC https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3565119521 NPG was the first national gallery to show a living photographers work (back in the 60's) - it was an exhibition of Cecil Beaton's and put photography on the map in terms of an artform. NPG went from dowdy, boring and considered one of the worst...to one of the most exciting! NPGYouth https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3565123634 2025-09-02 14:33:51 UTC https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3565123634 The home dear to Cecil Beaton, Ashcombe House, was later sold to Madonna and Guy Ritchie (where he still lives) - they did a feature in Vogue in 2015... NPGYouth https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3565146955 2025-09-02 14:48:17 UTC https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3565146955 https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571548734 Beaton was almost entirely self taught in photography- getting his first camera at age 11

]]> 2025-09-06 09:58:27 UTC https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571548734 Hollywood diva https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571551176 He did work for several Hollywood films like My Fair Lady and Gigi !

]]> 2025-09-06 10:03:40 UTC https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571551176 https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571551337 “Be daring, be different, be impractical, be anything that will assert integrity of purpose and imaginative vision against the play-it-safers, the creatures of the commonplace, the slaves of the ordinary.” Cecil Beaton

]]> 2025-09-06 10:04:12 UTC https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571551337 https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571551607 He frequently wrote to T. S Eliot.

]]> 2025-09-06 10:04:58 UTC https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571551607 The China and India Albums https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571551835 Interesting in the way they reflect more snapshots and seem more unmediated (but still carefully framed) views instead of constructed shots

]]> 2025-09-06 10:05:45 UTC https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571551835 Was the official photographer of the official coronation of Elizabeth II in 1953 https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571552268 2025-09-06 10:06:36 UTC https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571552268 Masks https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571552341 Cecil would have his party waiters walk around in animal masks

]]> 2025-09-06 10:06:53 UTC https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571552341 https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571552366 What I found quite interesting was the fact that Cecil felt quite outcasted and like he didn’t fit in. I think this is so true to how it feels being a creative sometimes you feel like you don’t fit in sometimes. So the fact he was able to overcome that and produce such incredible art is really fascinating.

]]> 2025-09-06 10:06:58 UTC https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571552366 https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571552639 Whilst known for his fashion photography - Beaton also spent some time with the Ministry of Information across Egypt and Asia during the second world war - photographing the impact of the conflict on soldiers and the impact back at home in the UK.

]]> 2025-09-06 10:07:36 UTC https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571552639 https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571552738 Beaton had photographed the monarchy since the abdication of Edward VIII in 1936 up until the year before his death in 1980, producing a more accessible image of the Windsors that would save them from disrepute, and secure himself knighthood.

]]> 2025-09-06 10:07:54 UTC https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571552738 https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571552871 He taught himself to draw with his left hand after a stroke in 1974

]]> 2025-09-06 10:08:20 UTC https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571552871 Royal Photographer at Just 25 https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571553579 At just 25 years old, Beaton began photographing the British royal family. His stylised portraits helped modernise their public image, especially during World War II when he captured Queen Elizabeth (the Queen Mother) and Princess Elizabeth (later the Queen) with a sense of elegance and resilience.

By Fardeen Anan

]]> 2025-09-06 10:09:33 UTC https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571553579 Bright Young Things https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571554148 Beaton was a member of a group called "Bright Young Things", a bohemian and aristrocratic group of socialites. And essentially was his stepping stool into high society.

]]> 2025-09-06 10:10:21 UTC https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571554148 https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571554349 Beaton wrote 38 books ranging from photography and scrapbooks to war documentation.

]]> 2025-09-06 10:11:01 UTC https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571554349 Despite his wealthy background a majority of his sets were diy, made of scraps and found items https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571554424 2025-09-06 10:11:14 UTC https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571554424 https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571555772 Beatons favourite flowers were white roses, Iceberg roses

]]> 2025-09-06 10:14:51 UTC https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571555772 https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571557493 the previous owners of his house (reddish house) installed cages for illegal cock fights that cecil repurposed to store costumes

]]> 2025-09-06 10:18:22 UTC https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571557493 https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571558688 Beaton died four days after his birthday 😔

]]> 2025-09-06 10:21:08 UTC https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571558688 https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571558877 He kept a visitors book at Ashcombe with lots of famous signatures ( and messages and doodles from friends)

]]> 2025-09-06 10:21:40 UTC https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571558877 He won 4 Tonys!!! https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571558891 2025-09-06 10:21:44 UTC https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571558891 https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571559278 He went to school with Evelyn Waugh, the writer, who was said to have bullied him

]]> 2025-09-06 10:22:48 UTC https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571559278 https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571559338 Cecil Beaton loved gardening and made an amazing summer house with a pond. When his head gardener and their wife had a baby, they lived on the property and he has the inside pond in the summer house full drained when the baby was born to keep it from falling in

]]> 2025-09-06 10:22:56 UTC https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571559338 Beaton once said... https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571559442 "Be daring, be different, be impractical be anything that will assert integrity of purpose and imaginative vision against (...) the creatures of the commonplace"

]]> 2025-09-06 10:23:14 UTC https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571559442 Ballet Russes https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571559683 Beaton was highly inspired by the popular early 20th century ballet as well as the exoticism the Ballet Russes costumes :)

]]> 2025-09-06 10:23:42 UTC https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571559683 ‘If you can’t love yourself how in the hell are you gunna love somebody else’ - Rupaul https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571559752 He staged a wedding for himself. Decor, invites, outfits the lot.

]]> 2025-09-06 10:23:54 UTC https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571559752 Cecil Beaton https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571561460 In his documentary ‘behind the glitter’ it was said that Cecil Beaton pretended that he was drawn to photography from when he was an infant, but it turned out this was a story he made up in his young adult years, as he started to define himself as as a creative…

]]> 2025-09-06 10:28:10 UTC https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571561460 Sheep in Satin Bows! NPGYouth https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571565533 2025-09-06 10:36:48 UTC https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571565533 Handprints in the downstairs bathroom NPGYouth https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571566841 Instead of signing a guest book, they signed their handprint in the toilet. Who's who in the Loo.

]]> 2025-09-06 10:40:04 UTC https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571566841 He did not have a wife. NPGYouth https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571571504 2025-09-06 10:53:09 UTC https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571571504 He was one of the longest royal photographers NPGYouth https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571571972 PR vibes.

]]> 2025-09-06 10:54:38 UTC https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571571972 Obsessed with Gardening NPGYouth https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571572479 Loved his theatrical garden as Ashcombe house. He had a summer house with hanging wicker baskets and a pond. He drained it to prevent a child drowning.

]]> 2025-09-06 10:56:09 UTC https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571572479 Evelyn Waugh NPGYouth https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571573541 Went to school and got bullied then took Waugh's photograph.

]]> 2025-09-06 10:58:59 UTC https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571573541 Theatre design NPGYouth https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571574144 Took inspiration from theatre design at the start of his career for his photography.

]]> 2025-09-06 11:00:16 UTC https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571574144 Art History at Cambridge (but failed). NPGYouth https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571574462 Set up Theatre Society at Cambridge

]]> 2025-09-06 11:00:51 UTC https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571574462 Photographed his sisters NPGYouth https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571574641 Used the dome, and it was bad for his sister.

]]> 2025-09-06 11:01:23 UTC https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571574641 Archives in London NPGYouth https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571576068 At the V+A and the Imperial War. We have most of his portraiture.

]]> 2025-09-06 11:04:49 UTC https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571576068 Betrayed a famous lesbian. NPGYouth https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571576343 2025-09-06 11:05:32 UTC https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571576343 His Grandfather was a black smith NPGYouth https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571576690 2025-09-06 11:06:28 UTC https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571576690 Beaton had a cat called Timothy. NPGYouth https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571576983 After Timothy passed away Beaton soon died too.

Andy Warhol drew Timothy.

]]> 2025-09-06 11:07:23 UTC https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571576983 He got cancelled. NPGYouth https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571577625 Tried to use war photography to recover.

It is important to critically engage with his work.

]]> 2025-09-06 11:08:38 UTC https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571577625 Polka dots ⚪️⚫️ https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571579188 2025-09-06 11:12:12 UTC https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571579188 parties https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571580350 he would have masked parties victorian parties greek parties wild west Russian and circus parties. they would play practical jokes and speak their own made up language

]]> 2025-09-06 11:13:57 UTC https://padlet.com/NPGYouth/gl11f1a0bnk4os9e/wish/3571580350