Aubrey Beardsley

(British, 1872–1898)

Aubrey Beardsley was a British author and illustrator known for his wry humor and elegant drawing style. Beardsley depicted both macabre and overtly sexual themes during the rampant conservatism of the Victorian era. “People hate to see their darting vices depicted [but] vice is terrible and it should be depicted,” he once said. Born on August 21, 1872 in Brighton, United Kingdom, he was a skilled artist and musician from a young age despite contracting tuberculosis at the age of 7. In 1891, Beardsley was recommended by the Pre-Raphaelite painter Edward Burne-Jones to attend the Westminster School of Art. After quickly gaining success as an illustrator, Beardsely was introduced to the famed author Oscar Wilde, who had recently published the provocative book The Picture of Dorian Gray. In 1894, Beardsley illustrated Wilde’s play Salomé (1891), in what was perhaps his most famous graphic work, the artist depicted ghostly figures, phallic-shaped objects, and nude hermaphroditic figures. His infamy in England led the young artist to be commissioned by erotica magazines in the following years. Struggling with tuberculosis throughout his life, Beardsley succumbed to the illness at the age of 25, on March 16, 1898 in Menton, France. Despite his short career, the artist’s work had a profound impact on the development of Art Nouveau. Today, his works are held in the collections of the Tate Gallery in London, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Albertina in Vienna, and the National Museum of Modern Art in Tokyo, among others.

Aubrey Beardsley Artworks

Aubrey Beardsley (174 results)

Lady playing serso

Attributed to Aubrey Beardsley

Lady playing serso

Russian Art Salon

800 USD

Avenue Theatre, A Comedy of Sighs, 1894

Aubrey Beardsley

Avenue Theatre, A Comedy of Sighs, 1894

Sale Date: November 30, 2023

Auction Closed

The Studio, 1895

Aubrey Beardsley

The Studio, 1895

Sale Date: November 30, 2023

Auction Closed

PSEUDONYM / AUTONYM. 1894., 1894

Aubrey Beardsley

PSEUDONYM / AUTONYM. 1894., 1894

Sale Date: March 9, 2023

Auction Closed

THE PSEUDONYM AND AUTONYM LIBRARIES. 1894., 1894

Aubrey Beardsley

THE PSEUDONYM AND AUTONYM LIBRARIES. 1894., 1894

Sale Date: August 3, 2023

Auction Closed

LE MORTE D'ARTHUR BY SIR THOMAS MALORY WITH..., 1893

Aubrey Beardsley

LE MORTE D'ARTHUR BY SIR THOMAS MALORY WITH..., 1893

Sale Date: May 30, 2023

Auction Closed

Grotesques by Aubrey Beardsley, 1913

Aubrey Beardsley

Grotesques by Aubrey Beardsley, 1913

Sale Date: June 21, 2023

Auction Closed

Grotesques by Aubrey Beardsley

Aubrey Beardsley

Grotesques by Aubrey Beardsley

Sale Date: June 21, 2023

Auction Closed

PSEUDONYM/ AUTONYM

Aubrey Beardsley

PSEUDONYM/ AUTONYM

Sale Date: April 26, 2023

Auction Closed

The Savoy., 1896

Aubrey Beardsley

The Savoy., 1896

Sale Date: March 26, 2023

Auction Closed

Max Beerbohm

Aubrey Beardsley

Sale Date: January 30, 2023

Auction Closed

Three Stylized Clematis Flowers., 1893

Aubrey Beardsley

Three Stylized Clematis Flowers., 1893

Sale Date: December 15, 2022

Auction Closed

Max Beerbohm

Aubrey Beardsley

Sale Date: October 20, 2022

Auction Closed

A chapter heading illustration for 'Le Morte , 1893

Aubrey Beardsley

A chapter heading illustration for 'Le Morte , 1893

Sale Date: April 29, 2022

Auction Closed

A chapter heading illustration for 'Le Morte , 1893

Aubrey Beardsley

A chapter heading illustration for 'Le Morte , 1893

Sale Date: April 29, 2022

Auction Closed

A chapter heading illustration for 'Le Morte , 1893

Aubrey Beardsley

A chapter heading illustration for 'Le Morte , 1893

Sale Date: April 29, 2022

Auction Closed

The Black Cape

Aubrey Beardsley

The Black Cape

Sale Date: December 18, 2021

Auction Closed

The Savoy, an Illustrated Quarterly. London:...

Aubrey Beardsley

The Savoy, an Illustrated Quarterly. London:...

Sale Date: October 15, 2021

Auction Closed

The Yellow Book: An Illustrated Quarterly....

Aubrey Beardsley

The Yellow Book: An Illustrated Quarterly....

Sale Date: October 15, 2021

Auction Closed

Pierrot's Library. London and Chicago: John Lane

Aubrey Beardsley

Pierrot's Library. London and Chicago: John Lane

Sale Date: October 15, 2021

Auction Closed

Art Nouveau line block print

Aubrey Beardsley

Art Nouveau line block print

Sale Date: December 11, 2021

Auction Closed

A set of five ornamental drawings: (i) Squatting

Aubrey Beardsley

A set of five ornamental drawings: (i) Squatting

Sale Date: December 3, 2021

Auction Closed

Flower flanked by Leaves, 1893

Aubrey Beardsley

Flower flanked by Leaves, 1893

Sale Date: January 28, 2021

Auction Closed

KEYNOTE SERIES. 1896, 1896

Aubrey Beardsley

KEYNOTE SERIES. 1896, 1896

Sale Date: February 18, 2021

Auction Closed

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English (US)

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