Summary
Overview
Beardsley, Aubrey,
1872-1898.
Aubrey Beardsley Collection
10 linear feet, 10 boxes, 5 flat cases, 1 portfolio
Princeton University. Library. Dept. of Rare Books
and Special Collections
Manuscripts Division
One Washington Road
Princeton, New Jersey 08544 USA
Abstract
Aubrey Beardsley was an English draughtsman and author. The collection includes
some of his Art Nouveau work, book illustrations, borders, chapter headings, title
pages, and posters. Also included are various notes for his writing and holograph
manuscripts of "Under the Hill" and "The Ivory Piece." Correspondence with friends and
colleagues completes the collection.
Description
Description
The Aubrey Beardsley Collection contains drawings from Beardsley's early Art Nouveau
work, book illustrations, borders, chapter headings, title pages, and posters. In
addition, a signed autograph manuscript of "The Art of Hoarding," notes for a Volpone
prospectus, its revision, and introduction are included, as well as notes for a short
story, "The Celestial Lover," which Beardsley never developed, and portions of the
original holograph manuscripts of "Under the Hill" and "The Ivory Piece."
Among the major correspondents are Edmund Gosse, Robert Underwood Johnson, and
Leonard Smithers. Albert Eugene Gallatin, art critic and collector of this material,
is also represented in letters from Henry Harland, Philip Hofer, Mitchell Kennerley,
Percy Lubbock, A. Hyatt Mayor, Arthur Symons, and others. In addition, there is
correspondence from Douglas Ainslie, Joseph M. Dent, John Lane, and Beardsley's
mother and sister, as well as photographs of Beardsley and family members.
Collection Creator
Biography
Aubrey Beardsley, English artist, book illustrator, and writer, was born on August 21,
1872 in Brighton, England. He showed signs of intelligence and talent from a young age,
developing writing, musical, and drawing skills. Unfortunately, Beardsley was also
afflicted with poor health from a young age, infected with tuberculosis by age seven. He
tried to work at an insurance company, but his weak lungs prevented him from working
there for long. After briefly focusing on his writing, Beardsley began to work more on
his drawing. His health improved, and seriously began his artistic career in the early
1890s. In 1892 he received a commission from J.M. Dent to illustrate Sir Thomas Malory's
Le Morte Darthur. This commission allowed him to survive
on his drawing alone. In 1894, he created 17 images for Oscar Wilde's Salome, beginning his relationship with the avant-garde. From
1894 to 1895 he worked as art editor for Yellow Book, but
fled to France when the Wilde was arrested. Upon his return to London, Beardsley founded
a new magazine The Savoy, which included parts of his
romantic novel Under the Hill. He illustrated Alexander
Pope's The Rape of the Lock and Aristophanes' Lysistrata in 1896. Around the same time, Beardsley's health
began deteriorating again and he was unable to work continuously. He passed away on
March 16, 1898.
Collection History
Acquisition
In 1948, Albert Eugene Gallatin gave the University drawings, manuscripts, letters,
and related material. Princeton has expanded the collection over the years by
additional gifts and purchases. See the Collection File for additional
information.
Beardsley's illustrated copy of Stéphane Mallarmé's L'après
midi d'une faune (1882) was purchased in 2012 with funds provided by the
Richard M. Ludwig Endowment donated by Michael Spence, Class of 1966.
Custodial History
The collection was formed as a result of a departmental practice of combining into
one collection manuscript material of various accessions relating to a particular
author.
Archival Appraisal Information
These books have been transferred to the Rare Books Division:
King, A. W. (Arthur William): An Aubrey Beardsley
Lecture...., London, R. A. Walker, 1924, #140 of 500, signed by R. A.
Walker
Reade, Brian: Aubrey Beardsley, an exhibition at
the Victoria and Albert Museum, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1966.
Reade, Brian, compiler: Aubrey Beardsley: an Exhibition
Arranged by Brian Reade for the Gallery of Modern Art, Foundation for
Modern Art, New York, 1967
Walker, R. A., editor: Letters from Aubrey Beardsley to
Leonard Smithers, The First Edition Club, Chiswick Press, London, 1937.
Processing Information
This collection was processed by Barbara Volz in 1996. Finding aid written by Barbara Volz in 1996.
Biography written by Alyxandra Cullen, '09.
Bibliography
The following sources were consulted during preparation of biographical note: Grove
Art Online.
Access and Use
Access Restrictions
High-quality photographic reproductions are available of all Aubrey Beardsley
drawings in the Collection. Any researcher wishing to request permission to consult
the originals must contact the Curator of Manuscripts, Department of Rare Books and
Special Collections.
Original Beardsley drawings (contained in Boxes 8-14A) are restricted; permission
from the manuscripts curator is required for access.
Use Restrictions
Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. No further photoduplication of
copies of material in the collection can be made when Princeton University Library
does not own the original. Permission to publish material from the collection must be
requested from the Associate University Librarian for Rare Books and Special
Collections. The library has no information on the status of literary rights in the
collection and researchers are responsible for determining any questions of
copyright.
Preferred Citation
Aubrey Beardsley Collection; 1890-1946, Manuscripts Division, Department of Rare Books and Special Collections, Princeton University Library.
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