Image of Gallery in South Kensington
Request to view at the Prints & Drawings Study Room, level C , Case GG, Shelf 68, Box G

Print

ca. 1900 (printed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This bookplate is one of several such designs made for his own use by the prominent London bookseller and amateur photographer Frederick Evans. It is based on a design for a chapter heading drawn by Aubrey Beardsley for his illustrated edition of the Sir Thomas Malory's 'Morte D'Arthur', published in 1893. It was Evans who first befriended the young Beardsley and secured for him the commission to do the book. Evans and Beardsley remained close friends and the most celebrated photographic portrait of the artist is the one taken by Evans. This bookplate forms an interesting link between two key figures of the 1890s.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Line-block
Brief description
Bookplate for Frederick H. Evans, designed by Frederick H. Evans; late 19th century
Physical description
Features a cartouche set within a decorative border of thorns interlaced in an ornamental fashion reminiscent of Celtic knotwork with six female, bare-breasted satyrs clambering among the branches. The cartouche is inscribed in capitals 'Ex Libris Frederick H. Evans/Let those who hold the torch hand it on to others.'
Dimensions
  • Height: 9.2cm
  • Width: 7.5cm
Marks and inscriptions
'Ex Libris Frederick H. Evans / Let those who hold the torch hand it on to others.'
Object history
Uses border design by Aubrey Beardsley's for his illustrations for Sir Thomas Malory, 'Le Morte Darthur' (1893-94), Vol.I, p.51
Subject depicted
Summary
This bookplate is one of several such designs made for his own use by the prominent London bookseller and amateur photographer Frederick Evans. It is based on a design for a chapter heading drawn by Aubrey Beardsley for his illustrated edition of the Sir Thomas Malory's 'Morte D'Arthur', published in 1893. It was Evans who first befriended the young Beardsley and secured for him the commission to do the book. Evans and Beardsley remained close friends and the most celebrated photographic portrait of the artist is the one taken by Evans. This bookplate forms an interesting link between two key figures of the 1890s.
Bibliographic reference
'The Bookplates of Aubrey Beardsley'; Mark Samuels Lasner; High Wycombe The Rivendale Press; 2008
Collection
Accession number
E.2076-2004

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Record createdMay 8, 2009
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