Tuesday, December 16, 2008

TAKE A DETAILED LOOK AT WHAT YOU HAVE...

Beardsley, Aubrey (1872-1898) and Wilde, Oscar (1854-1900), The Climax, Important original illustration for Salome: A Tragedy in One Act, published in 1894, auctioned for $213,300A pen and ink drawing recognized by an appraiser when he saw it hanging on a bathroom wall in a Boston-area home auctioned at Skinner for $213,300, a world record for an illustration by Aubrey Beardsley (1872-1898). A second Beardsley illustration sold at the same Boston auction for $142,200. The whereabouts of the two drawings, from a set of 13 illustrations for Oscar Wilde's play, "Salome: A Tragedy in One Act," had been unknown for more than 80 years. The consignor inherited them from his grandfather, but didn't realize their importance.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

As a gift for performing a sensual dance before the King, Salome was promised anything she ask for. What she asked for was John the Baptist's head on a platter.
This is a sketch showing her holding her prize.