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Peacock cover design for Salomé by Oscar Wilde

Publisher John Lane, The Bodley Head British
Author Related author Oscar Wilde Irish
[1907]
Not on view
In 1907 John Lane issued a portfolio of designs that Aubrey Beardsley created in 1894 for the first British edition of "Salomé." Oscar Wilde's play had been written in French in 1891 then translated into English by Lord Alfred Douglas. Several of the images Beardsley submitted were judged to be too erotic to publish, and either altered or omitted. All were, however, included in the 1907 set. This image reproduces Beardsley's original conception for the front cover, with peacock feather motifs likely inspired by Whistler's Peacock Room at 49 Prince's Gate, Kensington (now Freer Gallery). As published, the 1894 volume used a smaller motif on the cover.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Peacock cover design for Salomé by Oscar Wilde
  • Artist: Aubrey Vincent Beardsley (British, Brighton, Sussex 1872–1898 Menton)
  • Publisher: John Lane, The Bodley Head
  • Author: Related author Oscar Wilde (Irish, Dublin 1854–1900 Paris)
  • Date: [1907]
  • Medium: Halftone
  • Dimensions: Image: 8 in. × 6 1/4 in. (20.3 × 15.9 cm)
    Sheet: 13 11/16 × 10 3/4 in. (34.7 × 27.3 cm)
  • Classification: Prints
  • Credit Line: Gift of A. Hyatt Mayor, 1963
  • Object Number: 63.693.2(1)
  • Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints

More Artwork

More Artwork
Young Woman Surrounded by Briars, Lightning and Roses (Chapter Heading, "Le Morte d'Arthur," J. M. Dent 1893–94, Part III, book vi, chapter xvii, p. 215 and Part VII, book x, chapter xxii, p. 500), Aubrey Vincent Beardsley British, Pen and carbon black ink, brush and wash, over graphite
Young Woman Surrounded by Briars, Lightning and Roses (Chapter Heading, "Le Morte d'Arthur," J. M. Dent 1893–94, Part III, book vi, chapter xvii, p. 215 and Part VII, book x, chapter xxii, p. 500)
Aubrey Vincent Beardsley
Author Related author Sir Thomas Malory
by May 30, 1893
Stroh Violin, George Evans & Co. English, Mahogany and aluminum, British
Stroh Violin
George Evans & Co.
first quarter 20th century
[Two Halftone Reproductions of a Kerosene Lamp and a Kettle], Unknown, Halftone
[Two Halftone Reproductions of a Kerosene Lamp and a Kettle]
Unknown
1970s
Praying Angels and Poppies (Border Design for Thomas Malory, "Le Morte d'Arthur," J. M. Dent 1893–94, Part III, book vii, chapter i, p. 219), Aubrey Vincent Beardsley British, Pen and carbon black ink, brush and wash
Praying Angels and Poppies (Border Design for Thomas Malory, "Le Morte d'Arthur," J. M. Dent 1893–94, Part III, book vii, chapter i, p. 219)
Aubrey Vincent Beardsley
Author Related author Sir Thomas Malory
by May 30, 1893
Chalumeau in C, J.C. Denner British, Wood, brass, British
Chalumeau in C
Original by J.C. Denner
This copy possibly by Francis W. Galpin
copy late 19th century

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