Walter Richard Sickert

Aubrey Beardsley

1894

Not on display

Artist
Walter Richard Sickert 1860–1942
Medium
Tempera on canvas
Dimensions
Support: 762 × 311 mm
frame: 1010 × 553 × 61 mm
Collection
Tate
Acquisition
Purchased with assistance from the Art Fund 1932
Reference
N04655

Display caption

It is thought that this painting shows the artist Aubrey Beardsley walking through Hampstead Church graveyard. He had been attending the unveiling of a memorial to the Romantic poet John Keats. At this time Beardsley was also living with tuberculosis, the disease which had killed Keats. Though elegantly dressed, Beardsley’s figure appears emaciated. The subdued background adds to the poignancy of the image; Beardsley died four years later. The painting was published in the journal Yellow Book when Beardsley was art editor.

Gallery label, November 2021

Does this text contain inaccurate information or language that you feel we should improve or change? We would like to hear from you.

Catalogue entry

You might like

In the shop