BEATON (CECIL) Portrait photograph depicting a young Cecil Beaton in his rooms at Cambridge signed and inscribed by Beaton ('To Marie - Many Happy Returns from Cecil') in ink on the mount, gelatin silver print on cardboard mount, image 150 x 175mm., with mount c.177 x 236mm., [Cambridge, 1925]; with portrait of actress Marie Seton in a sequined dress reclining on a bed, inscribed 'from Cecil Beaton' in ink on the mount, gelatin silver print on cardboard mount, image 205 x 295mm., with mount 280 x 325mm., [n.d.]; and a portrait photograph of Marie Seton in Elizabethan costume, signed 'Marie Seton' in ink on image and on reverse, gelatin silver print, creased and torn with some losses, 300 x 246mm., [n.d.] (3) Footnotes: 'TO MARIE - MANY HAPPY RETURNS FROM CECIL'. Even at university Cecil Beaton was a keen self-publicist, and delighted in seeing himself in the press. Our portrait, showing Beaton in his rooms at St. John's College, Cambridge was published in 1925 above the caption '...Mr Cecil Beaton... whose designs for theatrical scenery and costumes are being exhibited in the Palace of Arts at Wembley. He is just 21...'. The niche behind him is filled with his green tea service and he poses casually between two elaborately carved and gilded Venetian chairs. At the time Beaton was reading History of Art and Architecture, although his studies were '...sporadic and onerous. Cambridge brought the first opportunity for him to present the image he desired and he devoted himself to the role of the Oxbridge Wildean 'aesthete' and dandy...' (Andrew Ginger, Cecil Beaton at Home, 2016, p.17). His interests clearly lay away from the library and he, unsurprisingly, failed to graduate, preferring to spend his time designing sets for various theatrical societies. Our photograph is dedicated to Marie Seton (1910-1985), a Beaton family friend. She was an actress and later became a respected theatre and film critic, known for her work for the Indian film industry. The portrait of Seton in Elizabethan costume may well be an homage to her namesake, Mary Seton, one of Mary Queen of Scots' companions, and could possibly be by Beaton. Provenance: Marie Seton (1910-1985), actress and film critic who helped establish the Federation of Film Societies of India, friend of Indira Gandhi and the Nehrus; her executor Pamela Cullen (1923-2024), champion of the Indian film industry; by whom bequeathed to the present owner. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing