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 Queen Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother), Princess Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth II) and Princess Margaret, Windsor Castle, 1943. The three women are seen looking downwards, from an interior balcony (at the top of a staircase known as the Gothic staircase). The balustrade and the ceiling above them are decorative; carved, gilded and panelled. Large paintings or tapestries are partly seen on the wall in the background. Two wall-mounted lamps with flame-shaped shades, light the shadowy space behind them. Both Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret look towards the camera, while Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother looks at her daughters. The scene is generally dark, but with strong lighting below the balcony; their faces are illuminated.
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 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 Queen Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother), Princess Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth II) and Princess Margaret, Windsor Castle, 1943. The three women are seen looking downwards, from an interior balcony (at the top of a staircase known as the Gothic staircase). The balustrade and the ceiling above them are decorative; carved, gilded and panelled. Large paintings or tapestries are partly seen on the wall in the background. Two wall-mounted lamps with flame-shaped shades, light the shadowy space behind them. Both Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret look towards the camera, while Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother looks at her daughters. The scene is generally dark, but with strong lighting below the balcony; their faces are illuminated. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Marks and inscriptions | '260-19' (Written in blue fountain pen beneath the image.) |
| Gallery label | The Royal Family, Windsor Castle
November 1943
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 this card indicates how frequently it must have been referred to by Beaton and his assistants.
Gelatin silver contact prints mounted on card
Ph.626A-L-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. 101 |
| Other number | 260-19 - Beaton's number |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | PH.626C-1987 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | August 17, 2010 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSON
