BEARDSLEY, Aubrey (1872-1898) - photo 1
BEARDSLEY, Aubrey (1872-1898) - photo 2

BEARDSLEY, Aubrey (1872-1898)

Lot 77
13.02.2025 00:00UTC +00:00
Classic
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CHRISTIE'S
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUnited Kingdom, London
Buyer Premiumsee on Website%
ID 1362898
Lot 77 | BEARDSLEY, Aubrey (1872-1898)
Estimate value
£ 6 000 – 8 000
BEARDSLEY, Aubrey (1872-1898)
Autograph letter signed ('Aubrey Beardsley') to [John Lane], 114 Cambridge Street, London, n.d. [1894]
Three pages, 177 x 113mm, bifolium, illustrated with a self-caricature in ink of a mournful Beardsley pointing an elongated finger at a noose. Half dark blue morocco slipcase. Provenance: The Rosenbach Company, A Catalogue of Original Manuscripts, 1933, item 10; Christie's New York, 14 December 1984, lot 128; Frederick R. Koch (1933-2020) – his sale, Christie's New York, 7 June 1990, lot 6; Barry Humphries (1934-2023).

Threatening suicide if his drawing of a 'fat woman' is not published. The letter opens with a threat illustrated by Beardsley's tearful self-depiction: 'I shall most assuredly commit suicide if the fat woman does not appear in No 1 of the Yellow Book. / I have shown it to all sorts & conditions of men – & women. All agree that it is one of my very best efforts & extremely witty ... The Picture shall be called "A Study in Major lines" ... Do say yes. / I shall hold demonstrations in Trafalgar Square if you don't ...'.

The first issue of the Yellow Book appeared on 15 April 1894: it was to be closely associated with the Decadent Movement in general and Aubrey Beardsley in particular. The difficulty with Beardsley's drawing, 'The Fat Woman', was principally that it was a noticeable caricature of the wife of James Whistler (and indeed Beardsley's proposed alternative title for it is a parody of Whistler's titles for paintings). John Lane (1854-1925), the publisher of the Yellow Book, was to struggle repeatedly to restrain Beardsley's desire to shock: in this instance, he held firm, and the drawing was published elsewhere.
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
8 King Street, St. James's
SW1Y 6QT London
United Kingdom
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13.02.2025 – 13.02.2025
Phone +44 (0)20 7839 9060
Email
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