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Image of Gallery in South Kensington
Request to view at the Prints & Drawings Study Room, level E , Case MB3R, Shelf I, Box 50A

Le Morte Darthur

Drawing
ca.1893-4 (made)
Artist/Maker
Beardsley, Aubrey Vincent (artist)
Place of origin
London (made)

A drawing in black ink on white paper depicting a stylised image showing a knight, wearing plate armour decorated with dragon's wings, standing between two trees.


Object details
Categories
Drawings
Books
Illustration
Myths & Legends
Designs
Object type
Drawing
Materials and techniques
Pen and Indian ink on paper
Paper
Pen and Indian Ink
Drawing
Brief description
Drawing by Aubrey Beardsley, of a young knight, design for the chapter heading of Chapter XXXI, book VII (p. 280 of vol. I and elsewhere), in Thomas Malory’s 'Le Morte Darthur', pen and ink on paper, London, ca.1893-4

Physical description
A drawing in black ink on white paper depicting a stylised image showing a knight, wearing plate armour decorated with dragon's wings, standing between two trees.
Dimensions
  • Sheet height: 170mm
  • Width: 76mm
Pasted onto sheet: 30.2 x 21.4 cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • "A Knight" / Shown at the exhibition of Bearsley's work at the Tate Gallery, no. 29 / By Aubrey Beardsley / Original of the illustration / on page 280 of 'La Morte D'Arthur' / published by Messrs Dent / 1893-4 / Size 6 3/8 x 2 5/8 in (Handwritten note accompanying object)
  • 17 Holland Park Avenue, / W / 16.8.10 / Dear Smythies / A line to say that the / Beardsley drawing of a / knight whch you are buying / from me is the original of / one of the illustrations to / 'Le Morte D'Artur', and / that I acquired it from / Dent the publisher of that book / Yours sincerely / Walter Emanuel (Handwritten note accompanying object)
Credit line
Purchased with Art Fund support
Object history
Beardsley was commissioned by J. M. Dent to produce illustrations for his intended republication of Malory's romantic tale 'Le Morte Darthur'; it was Beardsley's first commission. This design was for the chapter-heading of Chapter XXXI, Book VII, of 'Le Morte Darthur' which was published between 1893-4 by Dent.

Subject depicted
Knights
Associations
J.M. Dent & Sons Ltd.
Thomas Malory
Literary reference'Le Morte Darthur' by Thomas Malory
Bibliographic references
  • Cruise, Colin. Pre-Raphaelite Drawing. London: Thames and Hudson Limited London, 2011. 248pp, illus. ISBN: 978-0-7093-0264-3.p. 297
  • Calloway, Stephen. Aubrey Beardsley. London: V&A Publications, 1998no. 194
Collection
Prints, Drawings & Paintings Collection
Accession number
E.310-1972

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Record createdJune 30, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1026423/le-morte-darthur-drawing-beardsley-aubrey-vincent/
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