Aubrey Beardsley Gallery
The Billet-Doux, circa 1896
pen and black ink 14.2 x 14 cm

Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco

Artist Biography: Draftsman and artist. Highly original in the history of illustration. Represents the turn-of-the-century spirit of "art nouveau." Began as a musical prodigy. Studied at the Westminster Art School in London. Early in his development he showed an enthusiasm for D¸rer, Botticelli, Michelangelo, and was influenced considerably by the music of Wagner. Around 1892, his work followed the tendancies of the Pre-Raphaelite school, which he then abandoned for those of Japan, Ancient Greece, and 18th century France. He began drafting at the age of eleven, and at fifteen was composing illustrations for his favorite books. Employed in architect's office 1888. Began to practice art as a profession after 1891 on the urging of Puvis de Chavannes and Sir Edward Burne-Jones. Famous as illustrator and designer of posters.

viewer


Billet
Dream
Tannhauser
Herodias
Merlin and Nimue
Caprice. Verso
Chopin
Love Drink

Biography


Bulletin Board


Renowned Art
(home)
Aubrey Vincent Beardsley (1872-1898)
Aubrey Beardsley was born in Brighton, England. Beardsley's images are usually done in ink, and feature large dark areas contrasted with large blank ones, and areas of fine detail contrasted with areas with none at all. Beardsley illustrated Oscar Wilde's Salomé and produced illustrations for a deluxe edition of Sir Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur. Beardsley also wrote Under the Hill, an unfinished erotic tale based loosely on the legend of Tannhäuser.
female artists: by birth year | alphabetically
all artists, with thumbnails: by birth year | alphabetically
all artists: by birth year | alphabetically
artists born in the 13th 14th 15th 16th 17th 18th 19th 20th century