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Image of Gallery in South Kensington
Request to view at the Prints & Drawings Study Room, level F , Case X, Shelf 914, Box D

Photograph

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

Photograph depicting Queen Elizabeth II on her Coronation day, 2nd June 1953. The new Queen is crowned (this crown is known as the Imperial State Crown) and seated upon a gilded throne, upholstered in brocade fabric. She holds the orb and sceptre in her hands and is seen looking towards the camera and smiling broadly. She is dressed in an elaborately embroidered gown and wears a dark cloak. The cloak is embroidered, and a pattern of intertwining leaves is just seen. It is trimmed with a thick white and black fur and fastened with broad, glittering braids and knots. The scene is framed by a draped curtain which is tied back; to reveal a painted backdrop depicting the grand latticed naves of Westminster Abbey (where the Coronation ceremony had taken place shortly before this sitting).


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
photography
Brief description
Royal Portrait by Cecil Beaton (1904-1980). Photograph depicting Queen Elizabeth II, Coronation day, Buckingham Palace, 1953.
Physical description
Photograph depicting Queen Elizabeth II on her Coronation day, 2nd June 1953. The new Queen is crowned (this crown is known as the Imperial State Crown) and seated upon a gilded throne, upholstered in brocade fabric. She holds the orb and sceptre in her hands and is seen looking towards the camera and smiling broadly. She is dressed in an elaborately embroidered gown and wears a dark cloak. The cloak is embroidered, and a pattern of intertwining leaves is just seen. It is trimmed with a thick white and black fur and fastened with broad, glittering braids and knots. The scene is framed by a draped curtain which is tied back; to reveal a painted backdrop depicting the grand latticed naves of Westminster Abbey (where the Coronation ceremony had taken place shortly before this sitting).
Dimensions
  • Image width: 22.8cm
  • Image height: 23.3cm
  • Paper width: 23.6cm
  • Paper height: 23.8cm
Marks and inscriptions
'Tel mag' (Written in pencil on reverse, upper left.)
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.
Subject depicted
Place depicted
Associated object
Collection
Accession number
PH.1542-1987

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Record createdJune 8, 2009
Record URL
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