}

Cecil Beaton

Portraits

May 13 - July 26, 2015

One of the most significant and multi-faceted photographers of the 20th century, Cecil Beaton’s (1904-1980) captivating portraits were exhibited for the first time in Turkey at Pera Museum.

The exhibition focusing on Oscar winning costume designer Cecil Beaton was curated by Terence Pepper, the Senior Advisor on Photographs at the National Portrait Gallery in London, and included portraits of artists, actors, writers, intellectuals and royalty from between 1920s to the 1970s, from the collection of Sotheby’s Cecil Beaton Studio Archive.

Cecil Beaton worked in a variety of media ranging from painting, illustration, caricature, theatre and film costume design (winning two Oscars for the latter category for ‘Gigi’ and ‘My Fair Lady’), as well as being a best-selling author, photographic historian, diarist, and occasional actor. However it is as a photographer that most critics agree that he made his most important contribution to the arts.

Beaton’s photographs define a glittering generation, as he captured from behind his camera lens the great and famous personalities of the 1920s to the 1970s - from eminent artists, to iconic actors, influential philosophers, and international royalty. These intimate portraits tell the story behind the public veneer of the sitter, illuminating their private lives and relationships with Beaton himself.

 

 in collaboration

gallery wall paint sponsor

Exhibition Catalogue

Cecil Beaton

Cecil Beaton

Realized in collaboration with the Pera Museum and The Cecil Beaton Studio Archive at Sotheby’s the exhibition Cecil Beaton: Portraits included portraits of artists, movie stars, writers,...

‘Cecil Beaton: Portraits’ with Merih Akoğul

‘Cecil Beaton: Portraits’ with Merih Akoğul

Video

Chlebowski’s Sultan

Chlebowski’s Sultan

This is one of Stanisław Chlebowski’s larger canvasses dealing with themes other than battles; only Ottoman Life at the Sweet Waters now at the Istanbul Military Museum can compare with it in size.

Ottoman Music and Entertainment from the Perspective of Painters

Ottoman Music and Entertainment from the Perspective of Painters

When we examine the Ottoman-themed paintings of indoor everyday life by western painters, musical entertainment attracts attention as a fundamental aspect of the lifestyle.

The Ottoman Way of Serving Coffee

The Ottoman Way of Serving Coffee

Coffee was served with much splendor at the harems of the Ottoman palace and mansions. First, sweets (usually jam) was served on silverware, followed by coffee serving. The coffee jug would be placed in a sitil (brazier), which had three chains on its sides for carrying, had cinders in the middle, and was made of tombac, silver or brass. The sitil had a satin or silk cover embroidered with silver thread, tinsel, sequin or even pearls and diamonds.