A SELECTION FROM THE COLLECTION OF WATERCOLOURS & DRAWINGS
Illustration from Wagner's lyric drama, 'Siegfried', Act II, Aubrey Beardsley
Illustration from Wagner's lyric drama, 'Siegfried', Act II
Aubrey Beardsley (1872-1898)
Great Britain
Pen and ink with ink washes and scraping on paper
Museum number. E.578-1932
Purchased, 1932
The illustrator Beardsley was influenced by Burne-Jones and the Renaissance artist Mantegna. This drawing of 1892-3 depicts Siegfried after killing the dragon Fafnr. It combines 'hairline' calligraphic detail and carefully graded washes in a mannered ornamental style. It is one of Beardsley's greatest early works. He presented it to his mentor, Burne-Jones.