THE COLLECTED DRAWINGS OF AUBREY BEARDSLEY

Book Description

Rich selection of 170 boldly executed black-and-white illustrations ranging from illustrations for Laclos' Les Liaisons Dangereuses and Balzac's La Comedie Humaine to magazine cover designs, book plates, title-page ornaments for books, silhouettes, and delightful mini portraits of major composers.

Customer Reviews:

Hey, take a peek at this........2000-10-01

Inexpensive collection of Beardsley's black & white illustrations, mostly taken from other Beardsley books in the Dover catalogue. Some erotic penwork, but Aubrey's "obscene" art is quite tame by today's standards. Some of it even adorned the covers of magazines in his own time. Of course, the big value of this collection is that it's copyright free. You can use these illustrations in your crafts & collages or scan them for your websites. So, if you like that old decadent Nineties style (I mean 1890, not 1990), this book is one window you can peek through.

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Salome (1920 illustrated by Beardsley)
artist Oscar Wilde and Aubrey Beardsley
Manufacturer: Three Sirens Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Product Description

lovely vintage edition of Wilde's "Salome" illustrated by Aubrey Beardsley.

Story of Venus and Tannhauser (Wordsworth Classic Erotica)

Average customer rating:

Silly, poorly written erotica by a very talented artist
Hoping for more
a must buy
best erotica available
no heads or tails

Story of Venus and Tannhauser (Wordsworth Classic Erotica)
Aubrey Beardsley , and Glasso
Manufacturer: Wordsworth Editions Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Erotica | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1853266140

Book Description

1927. A romantic novel in which is set forth an exact account of the manner of State held by Madam Venus, Goddess and Meretrix, under the famous Horselberg, and containing the Adventures of Tannhauser in that Palace, his repentance, his journeying to Rome and return to the Loving Mountain. Aubrey Beardsley was one of the most controversial artists of the Art Nouveau era, renowned for his dark and perverse images and the grotesque erotic themes which he explored in his later work. His eroticism is manifest, and must be accepted as simply as the fact that he had auburn hair and long hands.

Customer Reviews:

Silly, poorly written erotica by a very talented artist.......2005-09-03

I love Aubrey Beardsley's sly erotic illustrations. All his imagery seems charged with sexual overtones and I couldn't help but think that Venus and Tannhauser would be an elegant and twisted story. I was looking for a bit of old-fashioned erotica ala Anais Nin or Nabakov...something evocative.

Instead I got a 14 year old boy's version of an orgy with much farting, grasping of appendages (ridiculously shaped and sized), spankings, high-blown dialogue, and pinching. I repeat: much farting and pinching. Maybe if I were slightly impaired I'd find it entertaining or titillating, but even drunk weasels would think this twaddle (they might snicker a bit, high-pitched weasel snickers). Surprisingly, the artwork ain't all there either. There are some lovely bits and some funny comic erotic drawings, but overall the illustrations were sparse. Could it just be my copy?? Part of my response might be just that I'm unfamiliar with the Venus and Tannhauser tale, but if I remember correctly, that tale was not so overblown. Beardsley's retelling reads like a very, very bad version of Alexander Pope's Rape of the Lock, but taken seriously in an odd juvenile manner.

I'd recommend this purchase for a die-hard Beardsley collector, but certainly not for someone who admires his work and is looking for an old-fashioned erotic read. Stick to his artwork and then read Anais Nin. Best of both worlds.

Hoping for more.......2004-02-09

I very much enjoyed Beardsley's bizarre, effete narration. His writing style is very different from the plain, clean lines of his drawing. The text nearly smothers the reader in adjectives and tangential detail - an affectation that reinforces the description of dissipated foppery.

Unfortunately, not all of the writing is Beardsley's. His early death left this work unfinished. A "posthumous collaborator" in the 1950s finished it, perhaps to his own satisfaction but not to mine. The break in style is quite abrupt where the modern writer took over, and I found his turn of plot inauthentic. [I think the first paragraph p.80 is where the impostor began writing. See ISBN 1871592127 for a comparison text.]

The book does reproduce a few of Beardsley's wonderful illustrations. There are only a few of them, though - this book is not primarily about Beardsley's drawing. If it were, I'm sure the printing and paper would have been upgraded to show more of the pictures' detail.

Any fan of Beardsley's art will gain insight from his writing. The reader should take care, however, in distinguishing Beardsley's writing from anyone else's.

(By the way, this is not for the squeamish. This is part of Beardsley's history, and some history is not very nice.)

a must buy.......2003-03-23

The story focuses on one Tannhauser's sexual frolics in the abode of the goddess Venus.The erotica is mostly implied or subtle which makes this book all the more fascinating,instead of repulsive as some works of erotica are.All in all,a must buy for collectors of erotica and a vintage literary gem.

best erotica available.......2003-03-23

This erotic fiction is a very fine piece of work.For the collector of erotica this book is a must buy.The story focuses on one Tannhauser's sexual frolics in the abode of the goddess Venus.The erotica is mostly implied or subtle, which makes the book all the more fascinating instead of disgusting as some works of erotica are.All in all,a vintage literary gem.

no heads or tails.......2000-04-04

this is a novel which is a good example of how not to write one. it is about a dandy tanhauser who visits the goddess venus and and his exploits in her realm.

Average customer rating:

Best of Aubrey Beardsley
Kenneth Clark , Baron Clark McKenzie , and Aubrey Beardsley
Manufacturer: DoubleDay
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Drawing | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0385145438

Beardsley Illustrations CD-ROM and Book (Electronic Clip Art)

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Exotic renderings of the sensual and the grotesque shocked London society in the 1890s

Beardsley Illustrations CD-ROM and Book (Electronic Clip Art)
Aubrey Beardsley
Manufacturer: Dover Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Instructional & How-To | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Artists, A-Z | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0486997707

Book Description

During his brief life span and career, Beardsley electrified the public with his exotic, sensual drawings. These 221 seductive black-and-white renderings provide graphic designers with a rich selection of subjects from his most famous illustrated books including The Savoy and Salome, as well as exotic cover designs, title pages, and poster art.

Customer Reviews:

Exotic renderings of the sensual and the grotesque shocked London society in the 1890s.......2007-03-04

Among the newest titles in this outstanding Dover Publications series are "Beardsley Illustrations: 221 Royalty-Free Designs" showcasing the work of Aubrey Beardsley whose exotic renderings of the sensual and the grotesque shocked London society in the 1890s and have continued endured in popularity as magazine cover designs, title pages, and poster art.

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Aubrey Beardsley
Brian Reade , and Aubrey Beardsley
Manufacturer: Antique Collectors Club Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 1851490485

Average customer rating:

Perfect for the Budding Beardsleyite
A Beardsley Biography

Aubrey Beardsley: A Biography
Matthew Sturgis
Manufacturer: Overlook Hardcover
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Artists, Architects & Photographers | Arts & Literature | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

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Victorian | Erotica | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 087951910X

Amazon.com

Diagnosed with tuberculosis at age 7, the talk of London before he turned 22, and dead at 25, Aubrey Beardsley (1872-1898) was a textbook example of the doomed artist he and his fellow decadents admired so much. British journalist and art critic Matthew Sturgis paints an evocative picture of the cultural milieu that shaped Beardsley, with its ferocious rivalry between the idealistic Pre-Raphaelites and the more sardonic English impressionists, who ultimately claimed Beardsley's loyalty (though the ambitious teenager initially gained the patronage of Pre-Raphaelite Edward Burne-Jones). The author's portrait of Beardsley is equally vivid, limning both his dandified affectations and underlying sweetness, his dedication to art and the distaste for sustained work that made him the despair of his publishers. Beardsley's unique black-and-white drawings--perfect for the new technology of mass reproduction--made a sensation, first with the commissioned artwork for Malory's Le Morte D'Arthur and Wilde's Salome, then in the bold periodical he founded with friends, The Yellow Book. But Wilde's trial for gross indecency tainted Beardsley (though Sturgis's take is that he was more likely a virgin than a homosexual); he was fired from The Yellow Book; and his tuberculosis worsened along with his commercial prospects. The author depicts his subject's agonized final months with the same judicious sympathy he trains on "The Beardsley Boom" of 1894. --Wendy Smith

Customer Reviews:

Perfect for the Budding Beardsleyite.......2004-03-21

Among the myriad biographies on Aubrey Beardsley, I have to say that this one stands out. Thorough, in depth and a quick read, it covers his life, work and complex personality perfectly. Although I have enjoyed immensely many other books about the man, I feel that this one provides a great starting point. From Beardsley's birth in Brighton to his untimely death in Menton, his tragic story is told with warmth, pathos and the great knowledge of a man clearly admiring of his subject. This book will open your eyes to new and startling truths about Beardsley and his work, if you have been convinced that his life was one of wanton decadence and sexual excess. What a surprise to learn that this clearly was not the case - rather, Beardsley was a most conservative man. I have for many years admired him and his work greatly, and am personally very thankful that Sturgis wrote this book.
For those more interested in a review of Beardsley's work, I'd suggest Chris Snodgrass' book, Aubrey Beardsley, Dandy of the Grotesque. It stands as a perfect companion to Sturgis' biography.

A Beardsley Biography.......2000-09-08

Matthew Sturgis' biography of the short-lived pen and ink master of black and white imagery provides an informative and elegantly written life of Art Noveau figure Aubrey Beardsley. Discussions of Beardsley's early years, meetings with famous figures like Oscar Wilde and James Whistler, Yellow Book fame, and last years full of physical decline are covered with intelligent attention to detail. Also included are several reproductions of Beardsley's illustrations and the critical response to them. The book is a fast read that is accessible to those not overly familiar with the man and the period, and is also interesting to the fin-de-siecle conoisseur.

Average customer rating:

Disappointing and Amateurish
Fantastic overview, great reproduction, must have book

Aubrey Beardsley
Stephen Calloway
Manufacturer: Harry N. Abrams
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Artists, A-Z | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Drawing | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Drawing | Instructional & How-To | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0810940094

Amazon.com

There was little that fin-de-siècle artist Aubrey Beardsley's famous gold-nibbed pen could not illustrate--drawings, posters, bookbindings. Though he died of tuberculosis at the age of 25, he left an enormous body of work behind that found a willing audience during his lifetime in the more outré circles of the "naughty '90s" and now symbolizes the decadence of the 1890s. Beardsley possessed an astonishing range of expression, but he is perhaps most famous for his outrageous erotic drawings--many of which adorned such artistic magazines as the Savoy and the Yellow Book. He pushed public opinion to the limit with his sequence of graphic illustrations for Aristophanes's Lysistrata, which, deemed obscene, remained unpublished until 1966.

Biographer Stephen Calloway curated the centenary exhibition of Beardsley's work at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London during autumn of 1998. He closely scrutinizes Beardsley's life in the light of his subversive drawings in this in-depth, superbly illustrated biography that coincides with the exhibition.

Customer Reviews:

Disappointing and Amateurish.......2006-12-29

It's hard to believe that Taschen published this book. The text contains many basic errors, and the author ascribes various drawings to Beardsley that are widely known to be fakes. Also, the reproduction quality on some drawings is poor. It's a shame because Taschen is generally a really good publisher.

Fantastic overview, great reproduction, must have book.......1998-04-28

This is an excellent addition to any Beardsley fan's bookshelf. Great reproductions, some rare drawings I've never seen, and interesting photos and supporting artwork and photos of the same era. Very readable, jolly good show!

Average customer rating:

Aubrey Beardsley: Imp of the Perverse
Stanley Weintraub
Manufacturer: Backinprint.com
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Artists, Architects & Photographers | Arts & Literature | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
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Aubrey Beardsley: A Biography

ASIN: 0595008089

Book Description

At twenty the "Fra Angelico of Satanism", as Roger Fry was to call Aubrey Beardsley, was an obscure clerk in a London insurance firm. Three years later he was the most notorious — and perhaps the most influential — artist in England.

Here, then, is the marvelous boy—he died at twenty-five—as human being and as complex and tragic genius, in the rich context of 150 examples of his graphic art.

The original version of Aubrey Beardsley was a National Book Award nominee.

Customer Reviews:

Perfect Watercolor Introduction.......2006-05-11

*****
I am a total beginner to watercolor---actually, to any type of painting, and this book was very helpful and easy to understand. I expect that the more I paint, though, the more I'll use it, as the information seemed to be insightful ideas that more advanced artists could also use. I read the entire book before I picked up a brush (as it was my sole introduction to watercolor) and I'm glad I did.

The book is organized in a question and answer format and grouped into: paper and painting surfaces; brushes and their care; paints and palettes; combining colors, water, paper, and brushes; tonal values; painting outdoors, on location and from life; and "is this a mistake or a creative opportunity?". The last chapter was most interesting, with actual examples of salvaged paintings---before and after.

The book was peppered with encouraging advice and information about being an artist, a painter. I loved reading it.
*****

Good, but not that good.......2004-11-03

I just checked the website listed below and the book is now $39.95 not including shipping. I have gotten this book several times from the library and I particularly like her use of a "funny brush." And the exercise in the book on mixing greens I did in an art class and that has been very useful. However, the information in the rest of the book can be found in other books. In my opinion, the book is not worth the $46 to $60 it would now cost to buy. Maybe Northlight Books will offer an updated version of this book in the near future ??? If the book was normally priced, I would probably buy it.

Tip for purchasing this book.......2004-01-30

As this book is out of print, I tried to buy a used copy. Amazon booksellers are selling used/new copies today for between $45 and $99!

However, I just ordered a copy directly from the authors website - autographed too! - for $24.99 + $6 shipping.
see: www.catherineanderson.net

Maybe this will help others who have been searching too.

the most inspirational book on watercolors i have..........2003-10-08

A must for all watercolor artists...you will be returning to this book for inspiration and encouragement, over and over again... trust me!!!

Set free of worry.......2002-01-07

I wanted you to know that I find your book the most encouraging and helpful of all the books I have seen. Your philosophy on just going for it and not worrying about any rules is the best.

The Watercolorist's Answer Book: 425 Tips, Techniques and Solutions

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The Watercolorist's Answer Book: 425 Tips, Techniques and Solutions

Manufacturer: North Light Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Instructional & How-To | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Watercolor Painting | Instructional & How-To | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Watercolor | Painting | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1581806337

Book Description

The Watercolorist's Answer Book features 425 popular tips, techniques and solutions selected from North Light's industry-leading library of watercolor instruction books.

This authoritative guide to the art of watercolor features the combined expertise of eight successful professional artists and includes:

-A thorough introduction to the fundamentals of watercolor painting for beginners -In-depth discussion of advanced watercolor topics such as materials, value and light, and composition and design -20 step-by-step demonstrations covering all aspects of watercolor painting, including brush techniques, color usage, and wash techniques

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