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AUBREY BEARDSLEY.
Rose Bush. Ornamental device for BookVI, chapterVI, page 191 of “Le Morte d’Arthur,”
London: Dent, 1893-94. Pen and ink on paper. 82x65mm; 3
1
/
4
x3 inches. Inlaid to size on
9
3
/
4
x7
1
/
2
-inch sheet with hand-drawn borders, “1/402” in pencil on verso. [1893].
[3,000/4,000]
The thorned roses in “Morte d’Arthur” represent love and passion and became Beardsley’s hallmark,
used frequently in his work for Salomé as well.This ornament is repeated in Book IX, chapter XV,
page 393. Provenance: J. M. Dent to ErhardWeyhe Collection, Sotheby’s NewYork 15 December
1988 to Jack and Caroline Milne. Zatlin 462.
5
●
AUBREY BEARDSLEY.
Three Stylized Clematis Flowers.Ornamental device for BookVI, chapter XVIII of “Le Morte
d’Arthur,” London: Dent, 1893-94. Pen and ink on paper. 91x60 mm; 3
1
/
2
x2
1
/
2
inches. Inlaid
to size on 9
3
/
4
x7
1
/
2
-inch sheet with hand-drawn borders,“402” in pencil on verso. [1893].
[3,000/4,000]
The clematis in “Morte d’Arthur” represents both intellectual beauty and artifice and anticipates
20th century abstract design.This ornament is repeated in Book IX, chapter XIX, page 402 and
Book XVII, chapter IV, page 785. Provenance: J. M. Dent to ErhardWeyhe Collection, Sotheby’s
NewYork 15 December 1988 to Jack and Caroline Milne. Zatlin 472.
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