Original silver gelatin photograph of the iconic singer and actress, as captured by the important photographer, his red watercolor signature on front of mount lower right. A 0.5 inch tear at the center of the upper edge of the mount, block of toning around the signature area from prior mounting and orange-brown adhesive along the edges of the mount on the reverse, otherwise fine.  Photograph measures 7.5 x 9.5 inches mounted to 10.24 x 11.25 inches secured to a 16 x 20 inch mat.

An extraordinary original Beaton photograph with special provenance from the subject herself, from the personal collection of Marlene Dietrich, thence to the collection of Paul McMahon, a critic, photographer and artist who worked for more than 13 years touring with Marlene Dietrich as the icon’s stage manager, announcer, dresser, secretary and escort.

Cecil Beaton photographed celebrities for almost seven decades, often on assignment for magazines including Vanity Fair, British Vogue, and Harper’s Bazaar. He captured Marlene Dietrich on several occasions in a style that recalls classical sculpture; here, he sets off her sharp, sculptural features and marble-like skin with soft, painted fabrics and a delightfully gauzy dress. A painter and designer as well as a photographer, Beaton was known for finding or creating innovative backdrops for his sitters both inside and outside the studio.