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Photograph

02/06/1953 (photographed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Photograph depicting Queen Elizabeth II, Cecil Beaton, and two photographic assistants amid the studio lights and camera equipment. Coronation Day, Buckingham Palace, 02/06/1953. Queen Elizabeth is seen seated in the background, crowned and holding the orb and sceptre. A painted backdrop evokes the interior of Westminster Abbey, while the surrounding interior with patterned curtains and wall-mounted candlesticks reveal the setting of the photographs at Buckingham Palace. In the foreground, a series of lights and cables are in silhouette. Beaton is seen from the back, wearing formal dress, leaning over his camera (a Rolliflex) to take his photograph.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
photography
Brief description
Photograph by Patrick Matthews (1914-1996) depicting Queen Elizabeth II, Cecil Beaton, and two photographic assistants amid the studio lights and camera equipment. Coronation Day, Buckingham Palace, 02/06/1953.
Physical description
Photograph depicting Queen Elizabeth II, Cecil Beaton, and two photographic assistants amid the studio lights and camera equipment. Coronation Day, Buckingham Palace, 02/06/1953. Queen Elizabeth is seen seated in the background, crowned and holding the orb and sceptre. A painted backdrop evokes the interior of Westminster Abbey, while the surrounding interior with patterned curtains and wall-mounted candlesticks reveal the setting of the photographs at Buckingham Palace. In the foreground, a series of lights and cables are in silhouette. Beaton is seen from the back, wearing formal dress, leaning over his camera (a Rolliflex) to take his photograph.
Dimensions
  • Image width: 19cm
  • Image height: 19cm
  • Paper width: 19cm
  • Paper height: 19cm
Gallery label
Patrick Matthews (1914–96) The Coronation Day Sitting, Buckingham Palace 2 June 1953 For the Coronation sitting Beaton employed the help of his friend Patrick Matthews, the experienced managing director of Vogue Studios, who arranged a team of technicians and electricians. Even Beaton’s younger sister Baba was enlisted ‘to help arrange the trains’. These snapshots by Matthews show assistants John Drysdale and Ray Harwood amid studio lights and tripods, poised to adjust a lamp or reload a camera. Gelatin silver prints V&A: Ph.1802-1987; Ph.579-1987 (2012)
Credit line
Bequeathed to the Museum in 1987 by Eileen Hose, secretary to the photographer
Production
Cecil Beaton photographed members of the royal family from 1930-1979.
Subjects depicted
Place depicted
Other number
5139/39 - Beaton's number
Collection
Accession number
PH.579-1987

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Record createdNovember 1, 2010
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