Beardsley, Aubrey

dating from the beginning of Beardsley’s artistic career and discussing the terms for, and progress of, his illustrations for Malory’s Le Morte Darthur, including his acceptance of this, his first professional undertaking (“…I quite agree with the terms mentioned in your letter of this date in respect to the payment for my drawings for the Morte D’arthur viz £50 for the 20 odd full page drawings, £25 for the 40 small drawings & designs & 5/- each for the initial letters…”), his enquiries as to whether Dent has received his designs (“…You do not say if you have received the border for Part 8 which I sent you two days ago. Please let me know at once if you have not… It was rather a successful one & I should be very upset if it got astray…”), requests for part payment (“…you promised me a cheque at this point…”), his work on Part XI (“…I have made out a synopsis of the Tannhaüser which I will read you when I bring the rest of [the] drawings…”) and requesting clarification of his publisher’s requirements (“…what initials are wanted for borders…”), also discussing other work (“…the book plate shall be my next drawing, & I hope I shall do something that will please you…”), his publisher’s invitation for him to exhibit other drawings “at the Institute”, the illness which “threw me back dreadfully”, his need to avoid “over exertion” (“…Sad is it not to have to begin coddling oneself up at twenty…”) and his suffering over a massive burden of work (“…I am simply sweating over it. As it is to be a frontispiece it will surely appear on the left Page... I am nearly crazy over the pile of work I have to get off. It’s simply monstrous that artists should either have to starve, or take up so much work that they cannot do it well. I believe however that both public and publishers prefer bad work…”), 17 pages, 8vo, Cambridge Street and Charlwood Street [London], one dated 8 October 1892, others undated, some small tears at folds, slight spotting

An important and unpublished collection documenting Beardsley’s first major commission and some background to one of his most famous series of illustrations. On the basis of this commission, which required him to produce over 350 drawings over a period of eighteen months, Beardsley resigned his post at the Guardian Life Insurance Company. The letters provide an insight into the financial, artistic and health concerns of the new artist.

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."