{"product_id":"14506-beardsley-aubrey-three-stylized-leaves-ornamental-device-for-le-morte-d-arthur","title":"Beardsley, Aubrey. (1872–1898) Three Stylized Leaves - Ornamental Device for \"Le Morte d'Arthur\"","description":"An original ornamental device designed by the English illustrator and author as part of his first major work, illustrations for the collection of Arthurian tales, \u003ci style=\"\"\u003eLe Morte d'Arthur\u003c\/i\u003e (London: Dent, 1893-1894). The illustration, depicting three acanthus leaves, was intended for Book II, chapter VI, p. 59 of the publication, with the acanthus leaves signifying the fine arts and artifice. Pen and ink on paper. 1.75 x 1.5 inches (4.5 x 4.3 cm), inlaid to size on a 9.75 x 7.5 inch sheet with hand-drawn borders. Written on the verso in pencil: \"315[with strike-through]\/320.\"\u003cspan style=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr style=\"\"\u003e\u003cbr style=\"\"\u003eIn 1892, London publisher J. M. Dent \u0026amp; Co. decided to produce an illustrated edition of \u003ci style=\"\"\u003eLe Morte Darthur\u003c\/i\u003e, Sir Thomas Malory's 15th-century reworking of Arthurian tales. They chose a 20-year-old insurance-office clerk and art student, \u003cspan style=\"\"\u003eAubrey Beardsley\u003c\/span\u003e, to illustrate the work. It was issued in 12 parts between June 1893 and mid-1894, and met with only modest success at the time. However, it has since been described as Beardsley's first masterpiece, launching what has come to be known as the \"Beardsley look\". It was his first major commission, and included nearly 585 chapter openings, borders, initials, ornaments and full- or double-page illustrations. This ornamental device was repeated in subsequent books and chapters of the work. \u003cspan style=\"\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"\"\u003eIn his book \"Sources of Art Nouveau,\" Stephan Madsen notes that the stylized leaves recall Hector Guimard's Paris Metro station designs (New York: DaCapo, 1975, pages 240-41).  \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr style=\"\"\u003e\u003cbr style=\"\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"\"\u003eThe drawings of Aubrey Beardsley, influenced by the style of \u003cspan style=\"\"\u003eJapanese woodcuts\u003c\/span\u003e, emphasized the grotesque, the decadent, and the erotic. He was a leading figure in the \u003cspan style=\"\"\u003eAesthetic\u003c\/span\u003e movement, which also included \u003cspan style=\"\"\u003eOscar Wilde\u003c\/span\u003e and \u003cspan style=\"\" class=\"mw-redirect\"\u003eJames A. McNeill Whistler\u003c\/span\u003e. Beardsley's contribution to the development of the \u003cspan style=\"\"\u003eArt Nouveau\u003c\/span\u003e and \u003cspan style=\"\" class=\"mw-redirect\"\u003eposter\u003c\/span\u003e styles was significant, despite the brevity of his career before his early death from tuberculosis.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr style=\"\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"\"\u003e\u003cbr style=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"\"\u003eProvenance: J. M. Dent to Erhard Weyhe Collection, Sotheby's New York 15 December 1988 to Jack and Caroline Milne.  Zatlin 376, 377.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr style=\"\"\u003e","brand":"Schubertiade Music and Arts","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46093552976031,"sku":"14506","price":3500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0512\/4826\/7423\/files\/Beardsley_Aubrey_3_Leaves_14506_001.jpg?v=1722188793","url":"https:\/\/www.schubertiademusic.com\/products\/14506-beardsley-aubrey-three-stylized-leaves-ornamental-device-for-le-morte-d-arthur","provider":"Schubertiade Music and Arts","version":"1.0","type":"link"}