Aubrey Beardsley (1872-98) became one of the enfants terribles of fin-de-siècle London. Although he died tragically at the age of 25, his subversive and sinuous images have continued to shock and delight admirers for over a century.
Tate Britain dedicates to Beardsley a major exhibition that brings together 200 spectacular works, the largest display of his original drawings in over 50 years and the first exhibition of his work at Tate since 1923.
In a career of less than seven years, Beardsley produced hundreds of illustrations for books, periodicals and posters. Tate Britain exhibits a huge array, revealing his unrivalled skill as a draughtsman in exquisite detail. The exhibition highlights each of Beardsley’s key commissions as an illustrator including Malory’s Le Morte d’Arthur 1893-4, his powerful illustrations of Oscar Wilde’s controversial play Salomé 1893 and Alexander Pope’s The Rape of the Lock 1896, of which five of the original drawings will be shown together for the first time.
Supported by the Aubrey Beardsley Exhibition Supporters Circle, Tate Americas Foundation and Tate Members
