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Not currently on display at the V&A

Le Morte Darthur

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

A drawing in black ink depicting a stylised image of an Arthurian knight, shown in profile, wearing full armour and bearing a standard. Behind the knight there are stylised plant forms and thorn-covered vines.


Object details

Categories
Drawings
Books
Illustration
Myths & Legends
Arms & Armour
Designs
Object type
Drawing
TitleLe Morte Darthur (series title)
Materials and techniques
Pen and ink on paper
Paper
Pen and Indian Ink
Drawing
Brief description
Drawing by Aubrey Beardsley, design for the chapter heading of Chapter XII, Book XX (p. 931 of vol. II), in Thomas Malory’s 'Le Morte Darthur', pen and ink on paper, London, ca.1893-4
Physical description
A drawing in black ink depicting a stylised image of an Arthurian knight, shown in profile, wearing full armour and bearing a standard. Behind the knight there are stylised plant forms and thorn-covered vines.
Dimensions
  • Sheet height: 13.8cm
  • Sheet width: 9.2cm
  • Image height: 133mm
  • Image width: 89mm
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 XII, Book XX, of 'Le Morte Darthur' which was published between 1893-4 by Dent.
Subjects depicted
Knight
Standard
Sword
Armour
Plants
Associations
J.M. Dent & Sons Ltd.
Thomas Malory
Literary reference'Le Morte Darthur' by Thomas Malory
Bibliographic references
  • Calloway, Stephen. Aubrey Beardsley. London: V & A Publications, 1998. 224pp, illus. ISBN: 1851772197. chapter 3
  • Linda Gertner Zatlin, Aubrey Beardsley : a catalogue raisonne. New Haven : Yale University Press, [2016] 2 volumes (xxxi, [1], 519, [1] pages; xi, [1], 547, [1] pages) : illustrations (some color) ; 31 cm. ISBN: 9780300111279 The entry is as follows: 661 Armoured Knight holding a Lance Book XX, chapter xii By 12 June 1894 Victoria and Albert Museum, London (D.1827-1904) Pen, brush and Indian ink over pencil on pale brown wove paper; 5 7/16 x 3 5/8 inches (137 x 94 mm). INSCRIPTIONS: Verso in pencil: reduce by ⅓ [in blue ink]: V.A.M. / [in pencil]: 3 / [in black ink]: D.1827-1904 / [stamp of the] National Art Library / [in pencil] I 50 FLOWERS: Briar (severity, envy), stylised flower. PROVENANCE: J. M. Dent; …; bt. Victoria and Albert Museum on 9 November 1904. EXHIBITION: London 1966-8 (179, London only). LITERATURE: Vallance 1897 (p.202), 1909 (no.59.xx); Gallatin 1945 (no. 345-624); Reade 1967 (p.323 n.146); Samuels Lasner 1995 (no.22). REPRODUCED: Le Morte Darthur, 1893-4 (p.931); Reade 1967 (plate 148). The stiffness of the Knight’s armour is reinforced by its rigid design, his posture and the tall flowers - all of which contrast with the curved briars.
Collection
Prints, Drawings & Paintings Collection
Accession number
D.1827-1904

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Record createdJune 30, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O860379/le-morte-darthur-drawing-aubrey-beardsley/
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