Beardsley, Aubrey, 1872-1898

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Illustrator and art editor of The Yellow Book.

From the description of Collection, 1893-1959, (bulk 1893-98 and 1943-59). (Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center (HRC); University of Texas at Austin). WorldCat record id: 122617113

Aubrey Beardsley was an innovative and influential English illustrator and author who helped inspire the Art Nouveau movement. He displayed remarkable talent for drawing and music as a child; later, while working as a clerk, he sold a short story, but was encouraged to concentrate on art by Edward Burne-Jones. Beardsley's distinctive, original, and highly idiosyncratic style brought him fame and success, but his provocative drawings were too controversial for Victorian England, and he was forced to flee in the wake of Oscar Wilde's arrest on charges of indecency. He died at the age of twenty-five from the tuberculosis that had plagued him since his youth, leaving behind a legacy of unique and distinctive art that remains popular.

From the description of Aubrey Beardsley prospectus for The Savoy and advertisements, 1895-1897. (Pennsylvania State University Libraries). WorldCat record id: 62736205

English artist.

From the description of Under the hill : AMs fragment, [1896?]. (Rosenbach Museum & Library). WorldCat record id: 122645559

From the description of Note, book plate, and envelope, 1898. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 83407697

Aubrey Vincent Beardsley was born in Brighton, East Sussex in 1872. His fame was the result of his posters and illustrations for Morte d’Arthur, Salome, Rape of the Lock, and other works as well for the Yellow Book magazine (1894-1896) and his own Book of 50 Drawings, mostly created in black in his individualistic style. He is regarded, along with Oscar Wilde, as a leader of the Decadents’ of the 1890s.

From the guide to the Aubrey Beardsley Papers and Notes, 1960s-1970s, (Arizona State University Libraries Special Collections)

English illustrator and writer.

From the description of Christmas card, ca. 1884. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 367388684

From the description of Drawing, 1885? (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 367387172

Aubrey Vincent Beardsley (1872-1898), the artist. For fuller details of his life and achievements see the Dictionary of National Biography.

From the guide to the Autograph letters and other material by Aubrey Beardsley, with other items relating to him, 1892-1898, (Leeds University Library)

Aubrey Beardsley, English artist, book illustrator, and writer, was born on August 21, 1872 in Brighton, England. He showed signs of intelligence and talent from a young age, developing writing, musical, and drawing skills. Unfortunately, Beardsley was also afflicted with poor health from a young age, infected with tuberculosis by age seven. He tried to work at an insurance company, but his weak lungs prevented him from working there for long. After briefly focusing on his writing, Beardsley began to work more on his drawing. His health improved, and seriously began his artistic career in the early 1890s. In 1892 he received a commission from J.M. Dent to illustrate Sir Thomas Malory's Le Morte Darthur . This commission allowed him to survive on his drawing alone. In 1894, he created 17 images for Oscar Wilde's Salome, beginning his relationship with the avant-garde. From 1894 to 1895 he worked as art editor for Yellow Book, but fled to France when the Wilde was arrested. Upon his return to London, Beardsley founded a new magazine The Savoy, which included parts of his romantic novel Under the Hill . He illustrated Alexander Pope's The Rape of the Lock and Aristophanes' Lysistrata in 1896. Around the same time, Beardsley's health began deteriorating again and he was unable to work continuously. He passed away on March 16, 1898.

From the guide to the Aubrey Beardsley Collection, 1890-1946, (Princeton University. Library. Dept. of Rare Books and Special Collections)

Aubrey (Vincent) Beardsley, an English artist, was born in 1872 in Brighton, England to Ellen Agnes Pitt and Vincent Paul Beardsley. After his schooling at Brighton, he worked in an architect's office. He then became a clerk in the office of the Guardian Insurance Company. His first important commision was the illustration of "Morte d'Arthur" written by Sir Thomas Malory, for which he produced over five hundred designs. In 1894, he became art editor of "Yellow Book" which produced and published many of his most original works. Many believe this periodical produced the purest literature of the 1890's. Shortly thereafter he joined the production of the "Savoy" to which he contributed poems and prose. Aubrey Beardsley died on March 16, 1898.

From the guide to the Letter : Spread Eagle Hotel, Epsom, England, to Leonard Smithers MS 0001., 1896 Aug. 16., (Mount Holyoke College Archives and Special Collections)

Aubrey Vincent Beardsley (1872-1898) was an English artist.

From the description of Correspondence of Aubrey Beardsley, 1895-1898. (Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens). WorldCat record id: 122593575

Aubrey Beardsley was an English illustrator and editor.

From the description of Aubrey Beardsley collection of papers, [1893]-1898. (New York Public Library). WorldCat record id: 122615514

From the guide to the Aubrey Beardsley collection of papers, 1893]-1898, (The New York Public Library. Henry W. and Albert A. Berg Collection of English and American Literature.)

English artist, best known for illustrations for Morte d'Arthur, Wilde's Salomé, and the Rape of the lock.

From the description of Under the hill : a romantic novel : AMsS, [1896?] / by Aubrey Beardsley with his illustrations & ornaments. Chaps. I-V. (Rosenbach Museum & Library). WorldCat record id: 122490340

Aubrey Vincent Beardsley was born in Brighton on 21 August 1872 and early showed artistic ability, acting and playing in concerts with his sister Mabel and producing drawings of recognized merit. The Beardsley family's means were modest, and by 1888 Aubrey had quit school to work as a clerk. At the age of nineteen Aubrey Beardsley embarked on a career as an illustrator, and with the encouragement of Pierre Puvis de Chavannes in France and Joseph Pennell in England he quickly made a name for himself. His fame was ensured with the publication of the Dent edition of Malory's Le Morte Darthur in 1892, and by the following year the Beardsley boom was in full flower.

In 1894 Beardsley became the art editor of The Yellow Book under the general editorship of Oscar Wilde, but his advancing tuberculosis and Wilde's arrest put an end to that satirical periodical before 1895 was out. Beardsley's increasingly poor health forced his move from health resort to health resort, but under the patronage of André Raffalovich he continued, despite severe difficulties, to produce his drawings. In 1896 alone he created numerous illustrations for The Savoy, The Rape of the Lock, and Lysistrata.

During 1897 Aubrey Beardsley's health continued to decline as serious work became increasingly difficult and his creative output dwindled. His death occurred at Menton, France, on 16 March 1898.

Adolphe Gladstone Millott Severn was a British physician as well as a student and collector of Beardsley.

From the guide to the Aubrey Beardsley Collection TXRC94-A8., 1893-1959, (Harry Ransom Center, University of Texas at Austin)

English artist and illustrator.

Beardsley, born in 1872 in England, suffered from tuberculosis much of his life. He trained at the Westminster School of Art (1891). Beardsley's unique illustrations were characterized by dramatic blacks and whites and adapted well to a new printing method using metal instead of wood blocks. Notably, Beardsley illustrated Thomas Malloy's Morte d'Arthur (1893), Oscar Wilde's Salomé (1894), Alexander Pope's Rape of the Lock (1896), Aristophanes' Lysistrata (1896), and Ben Jonson's Volpone (1898). While artistically innovative, Beardsley's designs were controversially erotic and cruel in emphasis. Beardsley converted to Catholicism (1897) and succumbed to tuberculosis the following year at age twenty-five.

From the description of Aubrey Beardsley collection, 1890s and undated. (Boston College). WorldCat record id: 36366742

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Derry, Georges, 1886-1960. R. A. Walker papers, 1930-1936. Princeton University Library
referencedIn Rosamond B. Loring collection of printed endpapers, 1900-1950 (inclusive), 1920-1941 (bulk). Houghton Library
referencedIn Miriam J. Benkovitz Papers, 1954-1986. Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library
creatorOf Beardsley, Aubrey, 1872-1898. Aubrey Beardsley collection, 1890s and undated. Boston College. John J. Burns Library
creatorOf Beardsley, Aubrey, 1872-1898. Autograph letter signed : London, to Arthur Symons, 1895 July 30. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Beardsley, Aubrey, 1872-1898. Autograph letters and other material by Aubrey Beardsley, with other items relating to him. Brotherton Library, University of Leeds
creatorOf Beardsley, Aubrey, 1872-1898. Proofs of Aubrey Beardsley plates from The Savoy. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Beardsley, Aubrey, 1872-1898. Autograph letter signed : [n.p.], to his sister Mabel, 1895-1896. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Beardsley, Aubrey, 1872-1898. [Girl and a Bookshop] [graphic] / [Aubrey Beardsley]. Rosenbach Museum & Library
creatorOf Beardsley, Aubrey, 1872-1898. Drawing, 1885? Harold B. Lee Library
referencedIn Symons, Arthur, 1865-1945. Aubrey Beardsley : n.p. : ms. S, [undated]. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Albert Stephens Borgman autograph collection, 1600-1950. Houghton Library
referencedIn Fred A. Rosenstock autograph collection L. Tom Perry Special Collections
referencedIn Benkovitz, Miriam J. Miriam J. Benkovitz papers, 1954-1986. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
creatorOf Beardsley, Aubrey, 1872-1898. Under the hill : AMs fragment, [1896?]. Rosenbach Museum & Library
creatorOf Aubrey Beardsley collection of papers, 1893]-1898 The New York Public Library. Henry W. and Albert A. Berg Collection of English and American Literature.
referencedIn Macfall, Haldane, 1860-1928. Letter, 1927 Mar. 1 : London, to "Dear Williamson." Bryn Mawr College, Mariam Coffin Canaday Library
referencedIn Boucicault Family papers, 1841-1902 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn John Lane Company Records TXRC00-A11., 1856-1933, bulk 1894-1930 Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center
creatorOf Beardsley, Aubrey, 1872-1898. Letter : Spread Eagle Hotel, Epsom, England, to Leonard Smithers, 1896 Aug. 16. Mount Holyoke College, Williston & Miles-Smith Library
referencedIn Rothenstein, William, Sir, 1872-1945. Letters, 1907-1940, Hampstead, Cambridge, Leicestershire, Gloucestershire, to Holbrook Jackson. Bryn Mawr College, Mariam Coffin Canaday Library
referencedIn Aubrey Beardsley collection, 1878-1964 Reading University : Special Collections Services
referencedIn Mix, Katherine Lyon. Letters received concerning The Yellow book, 1930-1960. Pennsylvania State University Libraries
referencedIn Macfall, Haldane, 1860-1928. Letter : London, to "Dear Walker," 1922 Mar. 29. Bryn Mawr College, Mariam Coffin Canaday Library
referencedIn Evans, Frederick H. Letters, 1909 Nov. 19 and 1919 Nov. 16, London, to Haldane Macfall. Bryn Mawr College, Mariam Coffin Canaday Library
referencedIn Art Poster File, [1890]-1910, (bulk 1895-1896) New-York Historical Society
referencedIn Wood, Trist, d. 1952. Trist Wood papers, 1808-1952 [manuscript]. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
creatorOf Beardsley, Aubrey, 1872-1898. Collection, 1893-1959, (bulk 1893-98 and 1943-59). Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center
referencedIn Pennell, Joseph, 1857-1926. Postscript : AMsS, 1919 Apr. [no day]. Rosenbach Museum & Library
referencedIn Macfall, Haldane, 1860-1928. Letters, 1926-1927, London, to Arthur Symons. Bryn Mawr College, Mariam Coffin Canaday Library
creatorOf Aubrey Beardsley Collection TXRC94-A8., 1893-1959 Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center
referencedIn Beardsley, Aubrey Vincent, 1872-1898 : [miscellaneous ephemeral material]. Metropolitan Museum of Art, Thomas J. Watson Library
referencedIn Derry, Georges, 1886-. Cards and letters : London, to Haldane Macfall, 1919-1920. Bryn Mawr College, Mariam Coffin Canaday Library
referencedIn Derry, Georges, 1886-. Letters, 1919 Sept. 15-Nov.1, London and Kendal, to Millard. Dartmouth College Library
creatorOf Autograph letters and other material by Aubrey Beardsley, with other items relating to him, 1892-1898 GB 206 Leeds University Library
creatorOf Beardsley, Aubrey, 1872-1898. Miscellaneous works by Aubrey Beardsley, 1949-1968. Princeton University Library
referencedIn Dowson, Ernest Christopher, 1867-1900. Autograph letter signed : Paris, to Leonard Smithers, 1896 Apr. 19. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Emmett, Burton, 1871-1935. Burton Emmett papers, 1888-1939. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
creatorOf Beardsley, Aubrey Vincent. [Aubrey Vincent Beardsley] : artist file John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art Library, Ringling Museum Library
referencedIn Beerbohm, Max, Sir, 1872-1956. Letter, 1922 Aug. 20 : Rapallo, Italy, to John Lane, London. Bryn Mawr College, Mariam Coffin Canaday Library
referencedIn Macfall, Haldane, 1860-1928. [Life of Aubrey Beardsley]. Bryn Mawr College, Mariam Coffin Canaday Library
referencedIn Autograph File, B, ca.1500-1982 Houghton Library
referencedIn Symons, Arthur, 1865-1945. Papers, ca.[1890-1945?] University of Arizona Libraries
referencedIn Haldane MacFall letter Archives of American Art
referencedIn Burns, Philip S. Papers, 1990-2001, undated, (bulk 1996-1998). University of California, Los Angeles
creatorOf Beardsley, Aubrey, 1872-1898. Aubrey Vincent Beardsley letter to Leonard Smithers, 1896. Metropolitan Museum of Art, Thomas J. Watson Library
creatorOf Beardsley, Aubrey, 1872-1898. Aubrey Beardsley collection (C0056) : complete list of drawings/illustrations. Princeton University Library
creatorOf Beardsley, Aubrey, 1872-1898. Letter, 1897 Dec. 26 : Menton, [France], to "My dear Smithers." Bryn Mawr College, Mariam Coffin Canaday Library
creatorOf Beardsley, Aubrey, 1872-1898. Note, book plate, and envelope, 1898. Harold B. Lee Library
creatorOf Beardsley, Aubrey, 1872-1898. Under the hill : a romantic novel : AMsS, [1896?] / by Aubrey Beardsley with his illustrations & ornaments. Chaps. I-V. Rosenbach Museum & Library
referencedIn Oscar Wilde and his Literary Circle Collection: Wildeiana, 1858-1998 William Andrews Clark Memorial Library, UCLA
creatorOf Letter : Spread Eagle Hotel, Epsom, England, to Leonard Smithers MS 0001., 1896 Aug. 16. Mount Holyoke College Archives and Special Collections
referencedIn Clark, Kenneth, 1903-1983. Aubrey Beardsley : lecture typescript, 1965 / Kenneth Clark. Metropolitan Museum of Art, Thomas J. Watson Library
creatorOf Dan H. Laurence Collection. Arms and the man / by Bernard Shaw - program for production at the Avenue Theatre, London, April 21, 1894. University of Guelph. McLaughlin Library
creatorOf Beardsley, Aubrey, 1872-1898. Artist file. Brooklyn Museum Libraries & Archives
referencedIn Oscar Wilde and his Literary Circle Collection: Correspondence, 1819, 1849-1957, 1962 William Andrews Clark Memorial Library, UCLA
creatorOf Beardsley, Aubrey, 1872-1898. Correspondence of Aubrey Beardsley, 1895-1898. Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens
creatorOf Boucicault family. Boucicault Family papers, 1841-1902. New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Aubrey Beardsley Papers and Notes, 1960s-1970s Arizona State University Libraries Special Collections
referencedIn J.M. Dent & Sons records University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
creatorOf Beardsley, Aubrey, 1872-1898. Aubrey Beardsley collection of papers, [1893]-1898. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Backhouse, E. (Edmund), Sir, 1873-1944. Memoirs [manuscript]. Libraries Australia
creatorOf Beardsley, Aubrey, 1872-1898. The three musicians : manuscript, [ca. 1896] Houghton Library
referencedIn Demachy, Robert. Letter : to Frederick Evans, ca. 1905. Getty Research Institute
creatorOf John Lane Company. Records of the John Lane Company, 1856-1933 (bulk, 1894-1930). Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center
creatorOf Beardsley, Aubrey, 1872-1898. Aubrey Beardsley collection, 1890-1946. Princeton University Library
referencedIn Baldry, A. L. (Alfred Lys), 1858-1939. Letter, 1919 Oct. 16 : Marlow, Bucks, to Haldane Macfall. Bryn Mawr College, Mariam Coffin Canaday Library
creatorOf Rorem, Ned, 1923-. On the burial of his brother / [music by] Ned Rorem ; [text by] Catullus ; [translated by] Aubrey Beardsley. New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Beardsley, Aubrey, 1872-1898. Christmas card, ca. 1884. Harold B. Lee Library
referencedIn Correspondence and journals of Henry James Jr, 1855-1916 . Houghton Library
creatorOf Beardsley, Aubrey, 1872-1898. "Aubrey Beardsley's school days", 1920. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
creatorOf Aubrey Beardsley Collection, 1890-1946 Princeton University. Library. Dept. of Rare Books and Special CollectionsManuscripts Division
creatorOf Martin Birnbaum papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf Beardsley, Aubrey, 1872-1898. Aubrey Beardsley prospectus for The Savoy and advertisements, 1895-1897. Pennsylvania State University Libraries
referencedIn Phil Burns Papers, 1990-2001, undated University of California, Los Angeles. Library. William Andrews Clark Memorial Library
referencedIn Sir William Rothenstein correspondence and other papers, 1887-1957. Houghton Library
referencedIn Smithers, Leonard C. (Leonard Charles), 1861-1907. Letter and typescript letter signed from Leonard C. Smithers, London, to Augustin Daly [manuscript], 1897. Folger Shakespeare Library
referencedIn Salerno, Nicholas A. Nicholas A. Salerno collection, 1977-[ongoing]. Arizona State University Libraries
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Ashworth, John Henry. person
associatedWith Aubrey Vincent Beardsley, person
associatedWith Aylesworth, Barton O. (Barton Orville), 1860-1933 person
associatedWith Backhouse, E. (Edmund), Sir, 1873-1944. person
associatedWith Baldry, A. L. (Alfred Lys), 1858-1939. person
associatedWith Beardsley, Aubrey person
associatedWith Beardsley Ellen person
associatedWith Beardsley, Ellen. person
associatedWith Beardsley, Mabel, person
associatedWith Beerbohm, Max, Sir, 1872-1956. person
associatedWith Benkovitz, Miriam J. person
associatedWith Benkovitz, Miriam J. person
associatedWith Birnbaum, Martin, 1878-1970. person
associatedWith Borgman, Albert Stephens, 1890-1954 person
associatedWith Boucicault family family
associatedWith Boucicault family. family
associatedWith Burnett, Frances Hodgson, 1849-1924 person
associatedWith Burns, Philip S. person
associatedWith Burns, Philip S. person
associatedWith Clark, Kenneth, 1903-1983. person
associatedWith Congreve, William, 1670-1729. person
associatedWith Custance, Olive, 1874-1944. person
associatedWith Dan H. Laurence Collection. corporateBody
associatedWith Demachy, Robert. person
associatedWith Derry, Georges, 1886-1960. person
associatedWith Dowson, Ernest Christopher, 1867-1900. person
associatedWith Emmett, Burton, 1871-1935. person
associatedWith Evans, Frederick H. person
associatedWith Gallatin, A. E. (Albert Eugene), 1881-1952. person
associatedWith Harland, Henry, 1861-1905. person
associatedWith Haworth, Richard person
associatedWith Haworth, Richard. person
associatedWith Howe, W. T. H. (William Thomas Hildrup), person
correspondedWith James, Henry, 1843-1916 person
associatedWith J.M. Dent & Sons. corporateBody
associatedWith John Lane Company corporateBody
associatedWith Loring, Rosamund B. (Rosamond Bowditch), 1889-1950 person
associatedWith Macfall, Haldane, 1860-1928. person
associatedWith Mix, Katherine Lyon. person
associatedWith Muir, Percy H. (Percy Horace), 1894-1979 person
associatedWith Pennell, Joseph, 1857-1926. person
associatedWith Princeton University. Library. Dept. of Rare Books and Special Collections. corporateBody
associatedWith Purchas, H. T. (Henry Thomas) person
associatedWith Purchas, H. T. (Henry Thomas) person
associatedWith Raffalovich, André, 1864-1934. person
associatedWith Ray, Gordon Norton, 1915- person
associatedWith Rorem, Ned, 1923- person
associatedWith Rosenstock, Fred A., b. 1895 person
associatedWith Rothenstein, William, Sir, 1872-1945. person
associatedWith Salerno, Nicholas A. person
associatedWith Severn, A.G.M. person
associatedWith Smithers, Leonard C., d. 1909 person
associatedWith Symons, A. J. A. (Alphonse James Albert), 1900-1941 person
associatedWith Symons, Arthur, 1865-1945, person
associatedWith The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art Library. corporateBody
associatedWith Unwin, T. Fisher (Thomas Fisher), 1848-1935. person
associatedWith Walker, R. A. (Rainforth Armitage), 1886- person
associatedWith William Andrews Clark Memorial Library corporateBody
associatedWith Wood, Trist, d. 1952. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
England
Great Britain
England
England
Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain
England
Great Britain
England
Subject
Art
Artists
Artists
Artists
Artists
Artists
Art nouveau
Art nouveau
Art nouveau
Art nouveau
Authors, English
Authors, English
Christmas cards
English literature
Illustrators
Illustrators
Illustrators, English
Letters
Letters 19th century
Raffalovich, André
Occupation
Artists
Artists
Artists
Artists
Illustrators
Activity

Person

Birth 1872-08-21

Death 1898-03-16

Britons

English

Information

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