Portrait of Aubrey Beardsley

The 100 Most Famous Aubrey Beardsley Paintings, Each One of a Kind

Updated November 2026 · ranked by our popularity score (searches, visits and orders for each work) · 242 works by Aubrey Beardsley in our catalogue

In short

Frontispiece for 'The Yellow Book: An Illustrated Quarterly' (1894) is the Aubrey Beardsley painting that draws the most eyes; the original belongs to the Yale Center for British Art, New Haven. After it, the eye goes to La Beale Isoud at Joyous Gard (1894) and The Climax. Among the 242 works of Aubrey Beardsley in our catalog, these 100 are the most famous, each a unique original presented with its year, its museum and the reason it endures.

1872 – 1898, Brighton Art nouveau Most works: British Library
Frontispiece for 'The Yellow Book: An Illustrated Quarterly' (1894) by Aubrey Beardsley1. Frontispiece for 'The Yellow Book: An Illustrated Quarterly' 1894 La Beale Isoud at Joyous Gard (1894) by Aubrey Beardsley2. La Beale Isoud at Joyous Gard 1894 The Climax by Aubrey Beardsley3. The Climax

Top 10 paintings by Aubrey Beardsley, through the gallery's eye

1
Frontispiece for 'The Yellow Book: An Illustrated Quarterly' (1894) by Aubrey Beardsley

Frontispiece for 'The Yellow Book: An Illustrated Quarterly'

1894 · Ink · Yale Center for British Art, New Haven

In the twilight of the Victorian era, a singular voice emerged from the shadows of Brighton to redefine the boundaries of graphic art. Aubrey Vincent Beardsley’s 'Frontispiece for The Yellow Book' is not merely an illustration; it is a profound manifesto of the Decadent movement, captured in a breathtaking dance of ink and void. Created in 1894, this work serves as a gateway into a world where elegance meets the…

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2
La Beale Isoud at Joyous Gard (1894) by Aubrey Beardsley

La Beale Isoud at Joyous Gard

1894 · Engraving

La Beale Isoud at Joyous Gard is an illustration created by the artist Aubrey Beardsley in 1894. This work originated from a commission to illuminate a new edition of Le Morte d’Arthur by Thomas Malory. The edition was released by the publisher J.M. Dent. The piece functions as a visual accompaniment to the medieval narrative, specifically focusing on the character of La Beale Isoud. She is identified in the text…

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3
The Climax by Aubrey Beardsley

The Climax

Ink On Paper

The Climax emerges from the ink of Aubrey Beardsley, a figure who arrived in the artistic landscape with a sudden, sharp intensity. Born on August 21, 1872, in Brighton, United Kingdom, Beardsley carries the weight of a life cut short; he dies at the age of 25 from tuberculosis. This specific illustration, created in 1893, exists as one of sixteen pieces commissioned for the publication of the play Salome. It…

The story behind this original
4
The Scarlet Pastorale by Aubrey Beardsley

The Scarlet Pastorale

Ink On Paper

In this monochrome illustration, we find ourselves drawn into a staged moment of high drama. The scene is set upon a darkened stage, where a central figure—a man dressed in a diamond-patterned costume—appears caught in a mid-performance gesture. He is a harlequinned pierrot, a figure of both comedy and melancholy, surrounded by other masked characters who linger in the shadows of the background. The composition is vertically oriented, pulling the…

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5
The cover of The Yellow Book (1894) by Aubrey Beardsley

The cover of The Yellow Book

1894 · Oil

The image presents a woman with long hair, positioned at a dining table within a room. She wears a black dress and sits in a posture that directs her gaze downward, toward the surface of the table. The scene is populated by several chairs and two vases, one situated on the left side of the table and another toward the right. A potted plant occupies the far left corner of…

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6
The Black Cape (1894) by Aubrey Beardsley

The Black Cape

1894 · Ink On Paper

In the evocative realm of 1894, Aubrey Vincent Beardsley captured a moment of profound theatricality with his ink drawing, The Black Cape. This masterpiece of the Art Nouveau movement presents a captivating study of a woman caught in a dynamic, almost breathless pose. As she lifts her skirt, there is an undeniable sense of movement and mystery, as if the viewer has stumbled upon a private, fleeting instant of revelation.…

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7
The Yellow Book (1894) by Aubrey Beardsley

The Yellow Book

1894 · Ink

We find ourselves before The Yellow Book, a work produced by Aubrey Beardsley in 1894. This piece emerged during a period of significant stylistic shift, aligning itself closely with the Art Nouveau movement. It represents a specific moment in the late 19th century when the boundaries of graphic illustration were being quietly redefined through a focus on organic forms and sinuous lines.

About this original
8
Sir Launcelot and the Witch Hellawes by Aubrey Beardsley

Sir Launcelot and the Witch Hellawes

Ink On Paper

The ink settles upon the paper in Sir Launcelot and the Witch Hellawes, a work by the artist Aubrey Beardsley. Created between 1893 and 1894, the image captures a singular moment of tension. It is a fragment of Arthurian legend rendered in stark, deliberate strokes. The scene finds the knight Sir Launcelot within the shadows of a dense forest. He stands facing the witch Hellawes. Their encounter is a quiet…

About this original
9
Ali Baba in the Woods (1897) by Aubrey Beardsley

Ali Baba in the Woods

1897 · Lithography

In this lithograph from 1897, we find ourselves drawn into a theatrical, almost unsettling moment from the tale of Ali Baba. The scene is stripped of color, relying entirely on a monochrome palette of black, white, and grey to establish its mood. A central figure dominates the left side of the composition, his body elongated and his arms outstretched in a gesture that feels both summoning and desperate. His expression…

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10
Caprice. Verso: Masked Woman with a White Mouse (1894) by Aubrey Beardsley

Caprice. Verso: Masked Woman with a White Mouse

1894 · Oil

The air feels heavy and still in this dimly lit interior. A woman sits in the gloom, her presence defined by the stark contrast of her pale skin against a dark, voluminous gown. She wears a black face mask that obscures her identity, leaving only the sharp detail of her red lips and a dark beauty spot to catch the light. Her black hair falls around her face, framing a…

The story behind this original

Aubrey Beardsley's famous paintings, numbers 11 to 100

11Adulterer (1897) by Aubrey BeardsleyAdulterer1897 12Mrs Winifred Emery (1894) by Aubrey BeardsleyMrs Winifred Emery1894 13The Toilet of Lampito (1896) by Aubrey BeardsleyThe Toilet of Lampito1896 14The Woman in the Moon (1894) by Aubrey BeardsleyThe Woman in the Moon1894 15Portrait of himself in bed (1894) by Aubrey BeardsleyPortrait of himself in bed1894 16Ex-Libris by John Lumsden Propert (1894) by Aubrey BeardsleyEx-Libris by John Lumsden Propert1894 17Waiting (1893) by Aubrey BeardsleyWaiting1893 18The Lacedaemonian Ambassadors (1896) by Aubrey BeardsleyThe Lacedaemonian Ambassadors1896 19Garcons de Cafe (1894) by Aubrey BeardsleyGarcons de Cafe1894 20The Toilet of Salome (1894) by Aubrey BeardsleyThe Toilet of Salome1894 21Count Valmont (1896) by Aubrey BeardsleyCount Valmont1896 22The Examination of the Herald (1896) by Aubrey BeardsleyThe Examination of the Herald1896 23The Battle of the Beaux and the Belles (1896) by Aubrey BeardsleyThe Battle of the Beaux and the Belles1896 24The Peacock Skirt (1893) by Aubrey BeardsleyThe Peacock Skirt1893 25Title page (1896) by Aubrey BeardsleyTitle page1896 26Lysistrata Defending the Acropolis (1896) by Aubrey BeardsleyLysistrata Defending the Acropolis1896 27Design for end paper of 'Pierrot' (1896) by Aubrey BeardsleyDesign for end paper of 'Pierrot'1896 28Design for the front cover of 'The Savoy: Complete in Three Volumes' (1896) by Aubrey BeardsleyDesign for the front cover of 'The Savoy: Complete in Three Volumes'1896 29A large Christmas Card (1895) by Aubrey BeardsleyA large Christmas Card1895 30Black Coffee (1895) by Aubrey BeardsleyBlack Coffee1895 31The Lady of the Lake Telleth Arthur of the Sword Excalibur (1893) by Aubrey BeardsleyThe Lady of the Lake Telleth Arthur of the Sword Excalibur1893 32The Dancer's Reward (1894) by Aubrey BeardsleyThe Dancer's Reward1894 33Madame Rejane (1894) by Aubrey BeardsleyMadame Rejane1894 34Et in Arcadio Ego (1896) by Aubrey BeardsleyEt in Arcadio Ego1896 35The Climax (1893) by Aubrey BeardsleyThe Climax1893 36The Stomach Dance (1893) by Aubrey BeardsleyThe Stomach Dance1893 37The Eyes of Herod (1894) by Aubrey BeardsleyThe Eyes of Herod1894 38Lysistrata Shielding Her Coynte (1896) by Aubrey BeardsleyLysistrata Shielding Her Coynte1896 39The Platonic Lament (1894) by Aubrey BeardsleyThe Platonic Lament1894 40Salome with her mother (1894) by Aubrey BeardsleySalome with her mother1894 41Lady Gold's Escort (1894) by Aubrey BeardsleyLady Gold's Escort1894 42Third tableau (1896) by Aubrey BeardsleyThird tableau1896 43Cover Design for Ali Baba (1897) by Aubrey BeardsleyCover Design for Ali Baba1897 44Apollo pursuing Daphne (1896) by Aubrey BeardsleyApollo pursuing Daphne1896 45Cover design to 'The Pierrot of the Minute' (1897) by Aubrey BeardsleyCover design to 'The Pierrot of the Minute'1897 46Salomé, Plate 9 (1906) by Aubrey BeardsleySalomé, Plate 91906 · British Library 47Of a Neophyte and how the Black Art was revealed unto him by Aubrey BeardsleyOf a Neophyte and how the Black Art was revealed unto him 48How Queen Guenever rode on Maying II by Aubrey BeardsleyHow Queen Guenever rode on Maying II 49A Nocturne of Chopin by Aubrey BeardsleyA Nocturne of Chopin 50Incipit Vita Nova by Aubrey BeardsleyIncipit Vita Nova 51Advertisement for Children's Books (1894) by Aubrey BeardsleyAdvertisement for Children's Books1894 52Salomé, Plate 3 (1906) by Aubrey BeardsleySalomé, Plate 31906 · British Library 53Cover 1894 (1894) by Aubrey BeardsleyCover 18941894 · Bratislava City Gallery 54Cover and spine 1893 (1893) by Aubrey BeardsleyCover and spine 18931893 55Front Cover (1897) by Aubrey BeardsleyFront Cover1897 56Pierrot of the Minute (1897) by Aubrey BeardsleyPierrot of the Minute1897 57The Coiffing (1896) by Aubrey BeardsleyThe Coiffing1896 58Don Juan, Sganarelle and the Beggar (1896) by Aubrey BeardsleyDon Juan, Sganarelle and the Beggar1896 59Merlin and Nimue (1894) by Aubrey BeardsleyMerlin and Nimue1894 60The Mysterious Rose Garden (1895) by Aubrey BeardsleyThe Mysterious Rose Garden1895 61Albert in search of his ideals (1897) by Aubrey BeardsleyAlbert in search of his ideals1897 62Initial Letter 'V' to Volpone (1898) by Aubrey BeardsleyInitial Letter 'V' to Volpone1898 63Front Cover (1896) by Aubrey BeardsleyFront Cover1896 64Chopin by Aubrey BeardsleyChopin 65Roseoflima by Aubrey BeardsleyRoseoflima 66Front Cover by Aubrey BeardsleyFront Cover 67Flosshilde by Aubrey BeardsleyFlosshilde 68A Child at its Mother's Bed by Aubrey BeardsleyA Child at its Mother's Bed 69Self-portait by Aubrey BeardsleySelf-portait 70Scarlet_Pastorale by Aubrey BeardsleyScarlet_Pastorale 71Hail and farewell by Aubrey BeardsleyHail and farewell 72Caricature of Felix Mendelssohn by Aubrey BeardsleyCaricature of Felix Mendelssohn 73Poster of Girl and a Bookshop by Aubrey BeardsleyPoster of Girl and a Bookshop 74Caricature of a figure in a sunflower dress by Aubrey BeardsleyCaricature of a figure in a sunflower dress 75Ballet of Marionettes I by Aubrey BeardsleyBallet of Marionettes I 76By Edgar Allan Poe by Aubrey BeardsleyBy Edgar Allan Poe 77How Sir Launcelot was Known by Dame Elaine II by Aubrey BeardsleyHow Sir Launcelot was Known by Dame Elaine II 78Self-portait by Aubrey BeardsleySelf-portait 79Bathyllus taking the pose by Aubrey BeardsleyBathyllus taking the pose 80Woman in a Bookshop by Aubrey BeardsleyWoman in a Bookshop 81Withered Spring by Aubrey BeardsleyWithered Spring 82The Kiss of Judas by Aubrey BeardsleyThe Kiss of Judas 83A Snare of Vintage by Aubrey BeardsleyA Snare of Vintage 84How King Mark and Sir Dinadan Heard Sir Palomides I by Aubrey BeardsleyHow King Mark and Sir Dinadan Heard Sir Palomides I 85Cinesias Entreating Myrrhina to Coition by Aubrey BeardsleyCinesias Entreating Myrrhina to Coition 86A Snare of Vintage by Aubrey BeardsleyA Snare of Vintage 87Cover design for 'The Yellow Book' by Aubrey BeardsleyCover design for 'The Yellow Book' 88Pierrot by Aubrey BeardsleyPierrot 89Seated Lady by Aubrey BeardsleySeated Lady 90Ballet of Marionettes II by Aubrey BeardsleyBallet of Marionettes II 91The Artist' Bookplate by Aubrey BeardsleyThe Artist' Bookplate 92Pierrot by Aubrey BeardsleyPierrot 93Hail Mary (pencil) by Aubrey BeardsleyHail Mary (pencil) 94The Litany of Mary Magdalen by Aubrey BeardsleyThe Litany of Mary Magdalen 95Lady with Cello by Aubrey BeardsleyLady with Cello 96Juvenal Scourging Woman by Aubrey BeardsleyJuvenal Scourging Woman 97Mrs Pinchwife Country Wife by Wycherley by Aubrey BeardsleyMrs Pinchwife Country Wife by Wycherley 98Mademoiselle de Maupin by Aubrey BeardsleyMademoiselle de Maupin 99Frontispiece by Aubrey BeardsleyFrontispiece 100Madame Rejane by Aubrey BeardsleyMadame Rejane

Aubrey Beardsley's famous paintings, period by period

Late Medieval

1893 · 3 works in this list
The Stomach Dance (1893), Aubrey Beardsley #36 The Stomach Dance 1893 Seated Lady, Aubrey Beardsley #89 Seated Lady Lady with Cello, Aubrey Beardsley #95 Lady with Cello

Mature Period

1894 – 1896 · 9 works in this list
La Beale Isoud at Joyous Gard (1894), Aubrey Beardsley #2 La Beale Isoud at Joyous Gard 1894 The Climax, Aubrey Beardsley #3 The Climax The Scarlet Pastorale, Aubrey Beardsley #4 The Scarlet Pastorale Sir Launcelot and the Witch Hellawes, Aubrey Beardsley #8 Sir Launcelot and the Witch Hellawes The Toilet of Lampito (1896), Aubrey Beardsley #13 The Toilet of Lampito 1896

Early Period

1893 – 1894 · 12 works in this list
The cover of The Yellow Book (1894), Aubrey Beardsley #5 The cover of The Yellow Book 1894 The Black Cape (1894), Aubrey Beardsley #6 The Black Cape 1894 Caprice. Verso: Masked Woman with a White Mouse (1894), Aubrey Beardsley #10 Caprice. Verso: Masked Woman with a White Mouse 1894 Ex-Libris by John Lumsden Propert (1894), Aubrey Beardsley #16 Ex-Libris by John Lumsden Propert 1894 Waiting (1893), Aubrey Beardsley #17 Waiting 1893

Late Period

1893 – 1898 · 13 works in this list
Frontispiece for 'The Yellow Book: An Illustrated Quarterly' (1894), Aubrey Beardsley #1 Frontispiece for 'The Yellow Book: An Illustrated Quarterly' 1894 · Yale Center for British Art Mrs Winifred Emery (1894), Aubrey Beardsley #12 Mrs Winifred Emery 1894 Lysistrata Defending the Acropolis (1896), Aubrey Beardsley #26 Lysistrata Defending the Acropolis 1896 Apollo pursuing Daphne (1896), Aubrey Beardsley #44 Apollo pursuing Daphne 1896 Cover and spine 1893 (1893), Aubrey Beardsley #54 Cover and spine 1893 1893

The subjects that held Aubrey Beardsley's eye

The four subjects that come back most often in these originals, each with its finest example.

Black and white 40 works

The Climax, Aubrey Beardsley #3 The Climax The Scarlet Pastorale, Aubrey Beardsley #4 The Scarlet Pastorale The Black Cape (1894), Aubrey Beardsley #6 The Black Cape 1894 Sir Launcelot and the Witch Hellawes, Aubrey Beardsley #8 Sir Launcelot and the Witch Hellawes

Woman 32 works

The cover of The Yellow Book (1894), Aubrey Beardsley #5 The cover of The Yellow Book 1894 The Yellow Book (1894), Aubrey Beardsley #7 The Yellow Book 1894 Caprice. Verso: Masked Woman with a White Mouse (1894), Aubrey Beardsley #10 Caprice. Verso: Masked Woman with a White Mouse 1894 Adulterer (1897), Aubrey Beardsley #11 Adulterer 1897

Man 12 works

Portrait of himself in bed (1894), Aubrey Beardsley #15 Portrait of himself in bed 1894 The Lacedaemonian Ambassadors (1896), Aubrey Beardsley #18 The Lacedaemonian Ambassadors 1896 Count Valmont (1896), Aubrey Beardsley #21 Count Valmont 1896 The Examination of the Herald (1896), Aubrey Beardsley #22 The Examination of the Herald 1896

Characters 10 works

Pierrot of the Minute (1897), Aubrey Beardsley #56 Pierrot of the Minute 1897 The Coiffing (1896), Aubrey Beardsley #57 The Coiffing 1896 How Sir Launcelot was Known by Dame Elaine II, Aubrey Beardsley #77 How Sir Launcelot was Known by Dame Elaine II The Kiss of Judas, Aubrey Beardsley #82 The Kiss of Judas

The museums that keep Aubrey Beardsley's originals

The 3 museums that hold the most of the paintings on this page.

Museum City Works by Aubrey Beardsley Paintings from this list
British Library, LondonBritish Library London 2 Salomé, Plate 9, Salomé, Plate 3
Yale Center for British Art, New HavenYale Center for British Art New Haven 1 Frontispiece for 'The Yellow Book: An Illustrated Quarterly'
Bratislava City Gallery, BratislavaBratislava City Gallery Bratislava 1 Cover 1894

Aubrey Beardsley across the years: the unique originals of each

Between 1893 and 1898, 6 years in all, Aubrey Beardsley made every dated original shown here: a short span, followed year by year.

Works per year

Pick a year to see its originals.

Aubrey Beardsley's paintings: questions for the gallery

What is the single most famous work of Aubrey Beardsley?Reveal the answer

Frontispiece for 'The Yellow Book: An Illustrated Quarterly' (1894), Yale Center for British Art, New Haven. La Beale Isoud at Joyous Gard (1894) and The Climax come next.

At what age did Aubrey Beardsley create Frontispiece for 'The Yellow Book: An Illustrated Quarterly'?Reveal the answer

22 years old: Frontispiece for 'The Yellow Book: An Illustrated Quarterly' dates from 1894, and Aubrey Beardsley was born in 1872.

Which ten paintings by Aubrey Beardsley are the most famous?Reveal the answer

Frontispiece for 'The Yellow Book: An Illustrated Quarterly', La Beale Isoud at Joyous Gard, The Climax, The Scarlet Pastorale, The cover of The Yellow Book, The Black Cape, The Yellow Book, Sir Launcelot and the Witch Hellawes, Ali Baba in the Woods and Caprice. Verso: Masked Woman with a White Mouse. The ranking above gives each one's year and museum.

How many works by Aubrey Beardsley are known?Reveal the answer

Our catalog holds 242 works by Aubrey Beardsley, dated from 1893 to 1898.

Where can the most famous Aubrey Beardsley originals be seen?Reveal the answer

Mostly in British Library (London), Yale Center for British Art (New Haven) and Bratislava City Gallery (Bratislava). The museum table above lists them all.

During which period did Aubrey Beardsley create the best-known paintings?Reveal the answer

In 1894: 21 of the 100 works on this page were made then, Frontispiece for 'The Yellow Book: An Illustrated Quarterly' among them.

Which famous Aubrey Beardsley painting is the earliest, and which the latest?Reveal the answer

On this page, the earliest is Waiting (1893) and the latest Initial Letter 'V' to Volpone (1898).

What subjects did Aubrey Beardsley favour?Reveal the answer

Black and white (40), Woman (32) and Man (12), across the 100 works on this page.

What materials did Aubrey Beardsley paint with most?Reveal the answer

Ink On Paper, for 28 of the 100 works on this page.

Which movement does the work of Aubrey Beardsley belong to?Reveal the answer

Art nouveau, judging by the originals on this page.

What Aubrey Beardsley originals can I see at the British Library?Reveal the answer

Salomé, Plate 9 and Salomé, Plate 3: the British Library, London holds 2 of the works on this page.

Aubrey Beardsley: a portrait of the artist

early life and career

aubrey vincent beardsley, a renowned english illustrator and author, was born on august 21, 1872, in brighton, sussex, england. his life was marked by social instability and emotional intensity, with recurrent attacks of tuberculosis affecting his health throughout his life. despite these challenges, beardsley's mother encouraged his artistic talents, and he developed a passion for music and literature.

artistic style and influences

beardsley's black ink drawings were influenced by japanese woodcuts, depicting the grotesque, the decadent, and the erotic. his work is characterized by elaborate composition, refined lines, and exploration of themes such as sexual identity. beardsley's contribution to the development of art nouveau was significant, despite his tragically short life.

notable works and collaborations

* salome, a play by oscar wilde, for which beardsley provided illustrations * the yellow book, a magazine co-founded by beardsley, showcasing his art nouveau style /en/art/list/ * a book of fifty drawings, a collection of beardsley's works, featuring his unique blend of the grotesque and the erotic

legacy and impact

beardsley's work had a profound impact on the development of art nouveau. his influence can be seen in the work of french symbolists and later-period art nouveau artists. [https://OriginalUniqueArt.com/@/aubrey-vincent-beardsley](https://OriginalUniqueArt.com/@/aubrey-vincent-beardsley)
  • view beardsley's artworks on OriginalUniqueArt: [https://OriginalUniqueArt.com/@/aubrey-vincent-beardsley](https://OriginalUniqueArt.com/@/aubrey-vincent-beardsley)
  • read more about beardsley on wikipedia: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/aubrey_beardsley](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/aubrey_beardsley)

key artworks and museums featuring beardsley's work

* the climax, a painting by beardsley, showcasing his unique style [https://OriginalUniqueArt.com/@@/8bwn3p-aubrey-vincent-beardsley-the-climax](https://OriginalUniqueArt.com/@@/8bwn3p-aubrey-vincent-beardsley-the-climax) * isolde, another notable work by beardsley, featuring his art nouveau style [https://OriginalUniqueArt.com/@@/8bwn3j-aubrey-vincent-beardsley-isolde](https://OriginalUniqueArt.com/@@/8bwn3j-aubrey-vincent-beardsley-isolde) beardsley's life was cut short by tuberculosis at the age of 25, but his legacy continues to inspire and influence artists to this day.
All 242 works by Aubrey Beardsley →