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Not on display

The Wagnerites

Print
May 1893-June 1894 (drawn), October 1894 (first published)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Print depicting a stylised image showing men and women, many with elaborate coiffures, seated in an opera house. On the balcony there are three seated women and two standing men. A programme that has fallen onto the floor lettered 'TRISTAN AND ISOLDE' is visible in the bottom right corner.

Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleThe Wagnerites (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Line block print
Brief description
'The Wagnerites', line block printed illustration by Aubrey Beardsley for 'The Yellow Book', Vol. III, October 1894
Physical description
Print depicting a stylised image showing men and women, many with elaborate coiffures, seated in an opera house. On the balcony there are three seated women and two standing men. A programme that has fallen onto the floor lettered 'TRISTAN AND ISOLDE' is visible in the bottom right corner.
Dimensions
  • Image height: 148mm
  • Image width: 127mm
  • Sheet height: 153mm
  • Sheet width: 132mm
Style
Marks and inscriptions
TRISTAN UND ISOLDE
Credit line
Given by Frederick H. Evans
Object history
This illustration was reproduced as no. III in 'Four Drawings by Aubrey Beardsley' in 'The Yellow Book', vol. III, October 1894.

According to Stephen Calloway in his book Aubrey Beardsley. London: V & A Publications, 1998, p. 103: 'Beardsley had an obsessive interest in Wagner, and avidly attended the London performances of the works. This depiction of the Wagnerian audience rather than the action of the opera identified by the fallen programme as Tristan and Isolde, is one of the greatest masterpieces of Beardsley's manière noire. Sickert claimed to have warned him that the drawings in which the area of black exceeded that of white paper were bound to fail artistically, and to have 'convinced him' of the truth of this aesthetic rule. Fortunately Beardsley seems to have ignored the advice.'
Associated objects
Collection
Accession number
E.15-1900

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Record createdJune 30, 2009
Record URL
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