Throughout her life, the Duchess of Devonshire was at the heart of British high society. This formal portrait was taken by Cecil Beaton eight years after her marriage to Andrew Cavendish and 10 years before the couple moved to Chatsworth House.<br />
Deborah Devonshire, 1949 —
Throughout her life, the Duchess of Devonshire was at the heart of British high society. This formal portrait was taken by Cecil Beaton eight years after her marriage to Andrew Cavendish and 10 years before the couple moved to Chatsworth House.
Cecil Beaton/Sotheby's
Described by Devonshire and Beaton as one of the best-dressed women in the world, Fellows once tried to seduce Winston Churchill by receiving him on a chaise lounge wrapped in a tiger skin. Here, she is dressed as the Queen of Africa.
Daisy Fellowes at the Beistegui Ball in Venice, 1951 —
Described by Devonshire and Beaton as one of the best-dressed women in the world, Fellows once tried to seduce Winston Churchill by receiving him on a chaise lounge wrapped in a tiger skin. Here, she is dressed as the Queen of Africa.
Cecil Beaton/Sotheby's
The eldest of the three literary Sitwell siblings, Edith was a poet and critic, who was part of the avant-garde movement of the early 20th century. <br />
Edith Sitwell, 1962 —
The eldest of the three literary Sitwell siblings, Edith was a poet and critic, who was part of the avant-garde movement of the early 20th century.
Cecil Beaton/Sotheby's
Dancer Adele Astaire married Lord Charles Cavendish -- the uncle of Devonshire's husband, Andrew -- secretly in the chapel at Chatsworth, in 1932, at the height of her fame. The pair met while Adele and her brother, Fred, were performing in London. <br />
Adele Astaire and Cecil Beaton in New York, 1931 —
Dancer Adele Astaire married Lord Charles Cavendish -- the uncle of Devonshire's husband, Andrew -- secretly in the chapel at Chatsworth, in 1932, at the height of her fame. The pair met while Adele and her brother, Fred, were performing in London.
Cecil Beaton/Sotheby's
The restoration of Chatsworth House and its garden became Devonshire's life's work. Here, she sits at the end of the estate's Canal Pond. <br />
Deborah Devonshire at Chatsworth, 1960 —
The restoration of Chatsworth House and its garden became Devonshire's life's work. Here, she sits at the end of the estate's Canal Pond. 
Cecil Beaton/Sotheby's
The two friends attend the White Ball thrown by Prince Rupert Loewenstein -- a Bavarian aristocrat and the financial manager of the Rolling Stones -- in Holland Park, London.<br />
Deborah Devonshire and Cecil Beaton, 1969 —
The two friends attend the White Ball thrown by Prince Rupert Loewenstein -- a Bavarian aristocrat and the financial manager of the Rolling Stones -- in Holland Park, London.
Cecil Beaton/Sotheby's
A famously glamorous socialite, Cooper -- a good friend of the Mitford sisters -- went to the ball dressed as beautiful Egyptian ruler Cleopatra.<br />
Diana Cooper at the Beistegui Ball in Venice, 1951 —
A famously glamorous socialite, Cooper -- a good friend of the Mitford sisters -- went to the ball dressed as beautiful Egyptian ruler Cleopatra.
Cecil Beaton/Sotheby's
Cavendish sits on the sofa with the British socialite, known as "Mrs. Ham," and across from the "wickedly attractive" Bloomsbury painter, Grant, in the drawing room at Chatsworth. <br />
Andrew Cavendish, Duncan Grant and Violet Hammersley —
Cavendish sits on the sofa with the British socialite, known as "Mrs. Ham," and across from the "wickedly attractive" Bloomsbury painter, Grant, in the drawing room at Chatsworth.
Cecil Beaton/Sotheby's
Freud was one of the first guests at Chatsworth when the Devonshires moved there in 1959. Here, he is seen at his house in England's West Country, with his then wife Caroline Blackwood.<br />
Lucian Freud and Caroline Blackwood, at Coombe Priory, 1956 —
Freud was one of the first guests at Chatsworth when the Devonshires moved there in 1959. Here, he is seen at his house in England's West Country, with his then wife Caroline Blackwood.
Cecil Beaton/Sotheby's