Not currently on display at the V&A

Beggars Banquet

Artwork
1968 (photographed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This is a print, signed by the artist, of the photographic artwork that was the inside cover of The Rolling Stones' 1968 album Beggars Banquet.

The album was the seventh recorded by the band, and was thought of as a return to their R&B roots, after the difficulties following the recording of the previous psychedelic effort Their Satanic Majesties Request. It was finished in July 1968, but was not released until November as the record company would not allow the cover art to be produced; it featured a graffiti covered toilet wall. It was eventually replaced by a plain white cover featuring the band name, title and the letters RSVP. The inner artwork was still used, however, and featured this photograph taken by Michael Joseph from a series shot in Sarum Chase, a neo-Tudor mansion in West Hampstead, London, over the course of a weekend with the band.

Michael Joseph was chosen by The Stones because they had seen his extensive advertising portfolio. Having photographed the Vietnam War while still at college, he went on to assignments for Nivea, Pirelli and Schweppes.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleBeggars Banquet (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Photographic print
Brief description
Large format sepia-coloured photographic print used in the inside gatefold cover of the Rolling Stones 1968 album 'Beggars Banquet'. Signed by the photographer Michael Joseph
Physical description
Photographic print in sepia colours of The Rolling Stones in a banqueting hall. Titled and signed by the photographer in black pen on the lower border.
Dimensions
  • Height: 50.3cm
  • Width: 60.3cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • "Rolling Stones Beggars Banquet"
  • Michael Joseph (Signature)
Subject depicted
Summary
This is a print, signed by the artist, of the photographic artwork that was the inside cover of The Rolling Stones' 1968 album Beggars Banquet.

The album was the seventh recorded by the band, and was thought of as a return to their R&B roots, after the difficulties following the recording of the previous psychedelic effort Their Satanic Majesties Request. It was finished in July 1968, but was not released until November as the record company would not allow the cover art to be produced; it featured a graffiti covered toilet wall. It was eventually replaced by a plain white cover featuring the band name, title and the letters RSVP. The inner artwork was still used, however, and featured this photograph taken by Michael Joseph from a series shot in Sarum Chase, a neo-Tudor mansion in West Hampstead, London, over the course of a weekend with the band.

Michael Joseph was chosen by The Stones because they had seen his extensive advertising portfolio. Having photographed the Vietnam War while still at college, he went on to assignments for Nivea, Pirelli and Schweppes.
Collection
Accession number
S.1284-1982

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Record createdMay 20, 2010
Record URL
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