Cecil Beaton's Garden Party Catalogue

Cecil Beaton's Garden Party CatalogueMy garden is the greatest joy of my life, after my friends. Both are worth living for. Cecil Beaton, 1979 Best known for his iconic fashion photography, Cecil Beaton had a bouquet of creative talents: he was also an accomplished costume and set designer for film, theatre and ballet, and a gifted artist. Cecil Beaton's Garden Party is the first exhibition to examine the common thread weaving through Beatons work: gardens and flowers. This catalogue

“My garden is the greatest joy of my life, after my friends. Both are worth living for.”– Cecil Beaton, 1979

Best known for his iconic fashion photography, Cecil Beaton had a bouquet of creative talents: he was also an accomplished costume and set designer for film, theatre and ballet, and a gifted artist. Cecil Beaton's Garden Party is the first exhibition to examine the common thread weaving through Beaton’s work: gardens and flowers.

This catalogue accompanying the exhibition includes a foreword by art historian and museum director Sir Roy Strong sharing memories of his friendship with Beaton, which followed their collaboration on Beaton’s 1968 exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery, where Strong was then Director.

An essay by Garden Museum Curator Emma House further explores Beaton’s passion for his gardens, with photographs, paintings, drawings, costume and set designs from the exhibition illustrating the role flowers played in developing his creative practice. From the lavish floral installations he created for parties with flowers from his own gardens, to painted and fresh flowers used as backdrops for fashion photography and royal portraits, to the famous floral costumes in My Fair Lady, discover Beaton’s life in flowers.