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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 C

Photograph

1943 (Photographed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

One of twelve photographs from a contact print; which has been cut out, arranged and mounted on card. Depicting King George VI, Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, Princess Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth II) and Princess Margaret, Windsor Castle, 1943. King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother are seated upon a gilt and upholstered sofa in the foreground. They turn to face each other, in conversation. Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother rests one hand on the surface of the upholstery between them. The two princesses also look towards their father, who appears to be speaking or telling a story. All three women are smiling and appear amused. Princess Margaret sits close to her mother, perched on the arm of the sofa; while Princess Elizabeth, stands behind them, resting her folded arms on the back of the chair. The room is heavily furnished, with gilded and panelled decorations on the walls. A glowing fire is partly seen at the edge of the image, beneath a large mirror and a mantle decorated with vines; carved statuettes and a candle holder adorn its top. A large oil painting is hung on the wall behind the family. The painting depicts a lady wearing a gown; a small dog scurries at her feet.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
photography
Brief description
Royal Portrait by Cecil Beaton (1904-1980). One of twelve photographs from a contact print; which has been cut out, arranged and mounted on card. Depicting King George VI, Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, Princess Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth II) and Princess Margaret, Windsor Castle, 1943.
Physical description
One of twelve photographs from a contact print; which has been cut out, arranged and mounted on card. Depicting King George VI, Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, Princess Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth II) and Princess Margaret, Windsor Castle, 1943. King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother are seated upon a gilt and upholstered sofa in the foreground. They turn to face each other, in conversation. Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother rests one hand on the surface of the upholstery between them. The two princesses also look towards their father, who appears to be speaking or telling a story. All three women are smiling and appear amused. Princess Margaret sits close to her mother, perched on the arm of the sofa; while Princess Elizabeth, stands behind them, resting her folded arms on the back of the chair. The room is heavily furnished, with gilded and panelled decorations on the walls. A glowing fire is partly seen at the edge of the image, beneath a large mirror and a mantle decorated with vines; carved statuettes and a candle holder adorn its top. A large oil painting is hung on the wall behind the family. The painting depicts a lady wearing a gown; a small dog scurries at her feet.
Dimensions
  • Image width: 5.8cm
  • Image height: 7.4cm
  • Paper width: 25cm
  • Paper height: 25cm
Marks and inscriptions
'260-52' (Written in blue fountain pen beneath the image.)
Gallery label
The Royal Family at Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace 1943 and 1945 After each royal sitting, Beaton would send a selection of the best photographs to the Palace for official approval before publication. Small prints of the approved photographs would be mounted on card, together with their negative numbers, to facilitate future print orders. The worn-out nature of these cards indicates how frequently they must have been referred to by Beaton and his assistants. Gelatin silver contact prints mounted on card V&A: Ph.8682 to 8693-1987; Ph.595-1987 (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
Associated objects
Bibliographic reference
Strong, Roy C. Cecil Beaton: the royal portraits. London: Thames and Hudson, c1988. p. 100
Other number
260-52 - Beaton's number
Collection
Accession number
PH.8686-1987

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Record createdJune 8, 2009
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