Alanova

Details

Sir Cecil Beaton, C.B.E. (1904-1980)
Alanova
with studio stamp and inscribed 'Alanova' (lower right)
pencil, pen and black ink
14½ x 20 7/8 in. (36.8 x 53 cm.)

Provenance

Cecil Beaton Studio Sale; Christie's, London, 7 June 1984.

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium, which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis. This lot is subject to storage and collection charges. **For Furniture and Decorative Objects, storage charges commence 7 days from sale. Please contact department for further details.**

Lot Essay

Madame Alanova stayed at Ashcombe in a house party in October 1933, after which Beaton wrote 'Babylike Alanova had been a great success and completely won Tom's (Mitford) heart, she had looked lovely and had been full of allure and other caprices, her bogus Russian accent (she is Alice Allen of Birmingham) delightfully developed and a great deal of conversation has centred around her'. (An extract from unpublished diaries).

Alanova must also have been dressed by Beaton.

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