Cecil Walter Hardy Beaton (1904-1980); Unique 1925-1927 Exhibition Gelatin Silver Print Photograph developed by the artist from his negative in the tradition of the artistic photographs of Julia Margaret Cameron (1815-1879), known as "Portrait of a Lady" as well as "Mrs Ruffer", mounted with a thin border of black paper over Renaissance-type Venetian hand printed book paper similar to that stuck to the wall behind figure and further mounted on watercolor white paper, signed to white border in ink & brush; with period inscription in the artist's hand to the reverse in ink & brush,"No. 1 / Portrait of a Lady / by Cecil Beaton / not for sale," with hand stamp, "Cecil Beaton Photographer #832/184," in a 19th Century Beaux-Arts gold leaf frame believed chosen by the photographer, now with acid free over mat and board. Height of photographic art 14 5/8 inches (37.2 cm.) X width of art 9 3/4 inches (24.7 cm.). EXHIBITED: Cooling Galleries, Bond Street, London, November, 1927, the #1 image in 23 year old Beaton's first solo gallery exhibition. Re-titled "Mrs Ruffer" in subsequent Beaton publications for photo copies of this print, she was a family friend and eccentric who once suggested Cecil give up photography for painting. Cecil considered this his first great photograph and with his experimental lighting and exhaustive lab work is unique and rarely re-photographed. PROVENANCE: Purchased in the 1970's in New York with the help of Ruth Ford (1911-2009), a Beaton Friend and frequent Model; to Michael Oster Fine Art, New York City.

Light age related wear with minor flakes to bottom edge of photograph. NOTE: Any condition statement is given as a courtesy to a client, is only an opinion and should not be treated as a statement of fact. Eddie's Auction shall have no responsibility for any error or omission. The absence of a condition statement does not imply that the lot is in perfect condition or completely free from wear and tear, imperfections, or the effects of aging.