The Book
Born in 1872, Aubrey Beardsley was, along with Oscar Wilde, an emblematic figure of the decadence that marked the end of Queen Victoria's reign. Largely self-taught, Beardsley's drawings initially show the influence of the Pre-Raphaelites, such as Burne-Jones and Rossetti. Later, he adopted a more radical and innovative style, illustrating Sir Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur and participating in the creation of The Yellow Book magazine.
But it was through his dark and erotic drawings, notably for Oscar Wilde's Salome, that he best evoked the troubled atmosphere of the time. Stricken with tuberculosis, Beardsley died prematurely at the age of 25. He left behind numerous illustrations, which had a great influence on the artists of Art Nouveau.
The Author
Patrick Bade is a leading art historian, an international guest speaker and senior lecturer at Christie’s Education in Modern Art Studies. A respected authority, he has written numerous publications, including books on Beardsley, Renoir and Rops.
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