Beschreibung:

BEARDSLEY, Aubrey (1872-1898). "Arbuscula," original pen, ink, pencil and wash drawing, signed ("AB") lower right, [before 2 September 1897]. "It is Arbuscula and beyond all words" (Beardsley describing the present work, Letters , 1970, pp. 363-4). A fine and opulent drawing, produced when Beardsley was already nearly bedridden from tuberculosis. References to this drawing survive in both a letter from Beardsley to the collector Herbert Pollitt on 2 September 1897 (quoted above) and in Heinemann's enthusiastic note of receipt a few weeks later. "[Heinemann's] tone suggests disbelief that Beardsley remained capable of excellent work despite deteriorating health: 'My dear Beardsley, Why it's perfectly amazing and fascinating – "the dandiest thing" you've ever done. Copperplate – of course – nothing less, indeed not. But I must come myself and tell you how beautiful it is, how much I like it....'" (Zatlin). Beardsley accepted a commission from William Heinemann in the spring of 1897 to contribute a drawing to the deluxe edition of Vuillier's History of Dancing (limited to 35 copies). Beardsley attempted two drawings of another Roman dancer before settling on this rendering of Arbuscula inspired by Ingres' Madame Rivière . Published : VUILLIER, Gaston. A History of Dancing from the Earliest Ages to Our Own Times . London: Heinemann, 1898 – multiple posthumous publications and catalogues raisonné. Zatlin 1075. 135 x 103mm, pen and ink, pencil and wash drawing on wove paper, the verso with an inscription by Beardsley, "Don't rub (pencilling)," and with a mostly effaced sketch (tipped at lower edge to card, green wash faded to gray). Mounted and framed. Provenance : William Heinemann, publisher, 1863-1920 (his commission) – More Adey, art critic, 1858-1942 – John Lane, publisher, 1854-1925 (his sale of Beardsley drawings, Anderson Galleries, 22 November 1926, lot 57) – Sotheby's, 1 May 1968, lot 12, sold to: – Brian Reade, art historian and critic, 1913-1989 (his 1967 catalogue, plate 494) – Sotheby's, 2 November 1995, lot 483, sold to the current owner.