Lot 116
  • 116

Cecil Beaton

Estimate
300 - 400 GBP
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Description

  • Cecil Beaton
  • 'Les Duff', Portrait of Duff and Diana Cooper
  • titled
  • ink and watercolour on paper
  • 22 by 14.5cm.; 8¾ by 5¾in.

Condition

Unexamined out of frame. There appear to be two horizontal creases running through the sheet, one through the neck area of both figures, and the other through their hips. There is one further small very faint crease in the lower right corner. There are some minor instances of light surface dirt and studio detritus. There may be some very slight fading to some of the pigments. This excepting the work is in overall very good condition. The work is window mounted and held behind glass in a simple painted wooden frame. Please telephone the department on +44 (0) 207 293 6424 if have any questions regarding the present work.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Catalogue Note

Duff and Diana Cooper were great friends of Vivien and Laurence, sharing trips, presents, and numerous letters over the years, with Diana an especially close confidant.  Duff Cooper was a Conservative politician, serving as the British Ambassador to France from 1944-7, and his wife Lady Diana a famously glamorous and eccentric society figure. The friends would often stay with each other at Notley Abbey, or at the Cooper’s residence at Chantilly, France. In a typically affectionate letter to Vivien, Diana writes: ‘Loving blessings for all – I wonder where you are, when back and with what projects. Whatever they may be I hope they prosper and flourish - burst in gold and shine’ (undated letter, The Vivien Leigh Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum, London, THM/433/2/3).