Aubrey Beardsley was an English illustrator and author born in Sussex, England, on 21 August 1872. Aubrey was very talented from a young age; he was musically gifted and played at concerts with his sister. Beardsley started to draw in primary school, and his works were published in school magazines. In 1892, he studied at the Westminister School of Art for a few months before becoming a professional artist.
Beardsley worked on over 300 illustrations, including numerous book commissions. Aubrey produced cover designs for The Yellow Book magazine, which he co-founded and was the art editor for a while. Aubrey developed a relationship with the Irish playwright & author Oscar Wilde and worked on a few projects with him, including his famous play, Salome.
Aubrey Beardsley was diagnosed with tuberculosis at the age of 6. However, he had an eventful and controversial career spanning six years. Aubrey fell critically ill when he was seventeen and died in France on 16 March 1898.
What was Aubrey Beardsley Known For?
Aubrey Beardsley was best known for his illustrations. Aubrey was multi-talented; he was a musical prodigy and wrote poems even as an established artist. Beardsley’s art was associated with demonic themes and moral decadence; his association with Oscar Wilde also brought his sexuality to question.
Who was Aubrey Beardsley Influenced By?
Aubrey Beardsley was influenced by Sir Edward Burne-Jones, who put in a good word to ensure his admission at Westminister and urged the artist to consider art professionally. Other influences are Pierre Puvis de Chavannes and Professor Fred Brown, his tutor while in school.
What Art Movement was Aubrey Beardsley Associated With?
Aubrey Beardsley was associated with the Aestheticism art movement, and he is a dominant figure in this movement. Aubrey’s work also portrays elements of the Art Nouveau style.
Aubrey Beardsley’s Artwork
Below are some of the artworks of Aubrey Beardsley.
“The toilet” from an Epic Poem by Alexander Pope
Isolde
A nightpiece
A repetition of Tristam and Isolde
Design for the frontispiece to ‘Plays’ by John Davidson
Dreams
How Morgan Le Fay gave a shield to Sir Tristam
How Queen Guenever made her a nun
How Sir Tristram drank of the love drink
Illustration to ‘Siegfried’ . Act II
Lucians strange creatures
The battle of the Beaux and the Belles
Climax
The dancer’s reward
The lady with the monkey
The peacock skirt
The return of Tannhauser to the Venusberg
The slippers of Cinderella
Title page of ‘The Savoy’ , No 1
Venus between terminal gods
Virgilius the sorcerer
All Aubrey Beardsley Artwork on Artchive
| Artwork Name | Year | Medium |
|---|---|---|
| Prospectus No. 1 | 1895 | |
| Enter Herodias | 1893 | |
| The Stomach Dance | 1893 | |
| The Toilet | 1894 | The Toilet |
| Cover Design For Smithers' Catalogue Of Rare Books | 1896 | |
| Madame Rejane | 1894 | |
| The Dream | 1895-96 | |
| The Billet-doux | 1895-96 | |
| The Ascension Of St. Rose Of Lima | 1896 | |
| The Climax | 1893 | |
| The Coiffing | 1896 | Lithograph |
| The Peacock Skirt | 1893 | graphite,Ink on Paper |
| Frontispiece for Venus and Tannhauser | 1895 | pen,ink |
| The Fourth Tableau of Das Rheingold | 1896 | |
| Contents Page of The Savoy No. 1 | Lithograph |
