Bradford's First Curry House and Cecil Beaton's Fashionable World
This article explores the history of Bradford's curry houses and the upcoming "Fashionable World" exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery (NPG), focusing on the work of photographer Cecil Beaton and his influence on fashion and portraiture.
The Search for Bradford's First Curry House
An investigation into the origins of curry houses in Bradford, sparked by the city's year as City of Culture, has uncovered new information. For years, multiple restaurants have claimed to be the first, dating back to the 1950s and the Sweet Centre in 1964. A historian's discovery of an advertisement in a British Library newspaper revealed Cafe Nasim, which sold "English Dishes" and "Indian Special Dishes," potentially placing it earlier than previously thought.
According to Mr. Karim, the discovery predates even the assumptions of local restaurant owners. "This will have been around the time of the Second World War so I can't even imagine what they would have been using for ingredients because of the rations." The owner of Kashmir, Mr. Latif, was also unaware of this earlier establishment.
Cecil Beaton's Fashionable World: A New Exhibition
The National Portrait Gallery is preparing to open "Fashionable World," an exhibition dedicated to Cecil Beaton's contributions to fashion photography. The exhibition will showcase approximately 250 items, including photographs, letters, sketches, and costumes.
The exhibition will include portraits of iconic figures like Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, Marlon Brando, Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Margaret, Lucian Freud, Francis Bacon and Salvador Dalí. The exhibition is curated by Robin Muir, photographic historian and contributing editor to Vogue.
Princess Karamjit and Beaton's Muse
Among the portraits featured is one of Sita Devi, Princess Karmajit of Kapurthala, also known as Princess Karam. Beaton was particularly transfixed by her beauty and style. Known as "the Pearl of India," she was considered "one of the most beautiful women in the world". She was born into the Hindu Rajput royal family of Kashipur in 1915, and married Prince Karamjit Singh at the age of 13. She died in 2002.
"At the age of 19, Vogue hailed her as a ‘secular goddess’, a title that reflected her transcendent appeal and impeccable fashion sense."
Her influence extended to designers like Elsa Schiaparelli, who dedicated her 1935 collection to the princess's saris. The princess's credentials as a style leader were cemented when Elsa Schiaparelli based a collection on her colourful saris.”
Beaton's Legacy and Impact
Cecil Beaton was a multi-faceted artist, known for his work as a photographer, fashion illustrator, costume designer, writer, and stylist. His impact on fashion, photography, and design is undeniable. Victoria Siddall, director of the NPG, emphasized the gallery's long history with Beaton, noting that his work was the subject of their first dedicated photography exhibition in 1968.
The exhibition will trace Beaton's career from his early experiments with photography to his work in Hollywood's Golden Age and his defining images of the monarchy. It will also explore his wartime service as an official war photographer and his later work in fashion and costume design, most notably for "My Fair Lady."
Beaton also photographed other Indian royals, including Gayatri Devi, the Maharani of Jaipur. His photography of Indian royalty was sometimes viewed as a way for him to obscure his own middle-class origins.