ticketsMember | Make a donation

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)

Author Related author Sir Thomas Malory British
by May 30, 1893
Not on view
Beardsley made hundreds of detailed ink drawings to illustrate J. M. Dent’s 1893–94 edition of Le Morte d’Arthur, and this border design was used to frame a tale of King Arthur’s piety in book seven, chapter one, titled "How Beaumains Came to King Arthur's Court and Demanded Three Petitions of King Arthur." The theme is underscored by angels whose repeated forms depend on a medievalist aesthetic, but the irregular shape of the lilies—shown open and closed with curvilinear stems—anticipates Art Nouveau.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: 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)
  • Artist: Aubrey Vincent Beardsley (British, Brighton, Sussex 1872–1898 Menton)
  • Author: Related author Sir Thomas Malory (British, 1415/18–1471)
  • Date: by May 30, 1893
  • Medium: Pen and carbon black ink, brush and wash
  • Dimensions: Sheet: 11 1/8 x 8 3/4 in. (28.3 x 22.2 cm)
  • Classification: Drawings
  • Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1923
  • Object Number: 23.90
  • Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Perseus
Aubrey Vincent Beardsley
1890–98
Program Cover: Avenue Theatre
Aubrey Vincent Beardsley
April 1894
A Chinese Priest and a Satyr
Aubrey Vincent Beardsley
James Tregaskis
1894
The Savoy: An Illustrated Quarterly, No. 1 (Front cover)
Aubrey Vincent Beardsley
January 1896
"The Savoy, Complete in Three Volumes" (poster)
Multiple artists/makers
ca. 1896

Related Content

Perspectives

Articles, audio, and video from The Met's online magazine.

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.