Le Morte Darthur thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

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 the initial letter 'S' surrounded by stylised poppies.


Object details

Categories
Drawings
Books
Illustration
Myths & Legends
Designs
Object type
Drawing
TitleLe Morte Darthur (series title)
Materials and techniques
Pen and ink on paper
Paper
Ink
Drawing
Brief description
Drawing by Aubrey Beardsley, design for the initial letter 'S' in Thomas Malory, 'Le Morte Darthur', chapter I, book VI (p. 183 of vol. I), pen and ink on paper, London, ca.1893-4
Physical description
A drawing in black ink on white paper depicting the initial letter 'S' surrounded by stylised poppies.
Dimensions
  • Sheet height: 10.2cm
  • Sheet width: 7.8cm
  • Image height: 97mm
  • Image width: 73mm
Pasted on sheet: 14.6 x 8.6 cm
Credit line
J. M. L. Tregaskis
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 initial letter 'S' in Chapter I, Volume VI, of 'Le Morte Darthur' which was published between 1893-4 by Dent.
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: 458 Initial letter S Book VI, chapter i By 30 May 1893 Victoria and Albert Museum, London (D.122-1899) Pen, brush and Indian ink over pencil on white wove paper; 4 1/16 x 3 1/16 inches (103 x 78 mm). INSCRIPTIONS: recto in Indian ink: S / [stamp of] NAL [National Art Library, surmounted by a crown]; Verso in black ink: D.122-’99 FLOWERS: Poppy flower and seed head (consolation, fantastic extravagance, sleep, my bane) PROVENANCE: J. M. Dent;...; Tregaskis 1898, Catalogue 420 (483l), bt. Victoria and Albert Museum on 1 March 1899. EXHIBITION: London 1901 (652), 1966-8 (222). LITERATURE: Vallance 1897 (p.202), 1909 (no.59.xx); Gallatin 1945 (no. 345-624); Reade 1967 (p.318 n.89); Samuels Lasner 1995 (no.22). REPRODUCED: Le Morte Darthur, 1893-4 (p.183); Reade 1967 (plate 89). The poppies resemble those in the drawing known as Veronica’s Veil, Book I, chapter vii (no. 347 above).
Collection
Prints, Drawings & Paintings Collection
Accession number
D.122-1899

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdJune 30, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O899885/le-morte-darthur-drawing-beardsley-aubrey-vincent/
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest