The Examination of the Herald

1896

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Dominant colour

The Examination of the Herald is a 1896 by Aubrey Vincent Beardsley, a Impressionism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: Aubrey Vincent Beardsley
When & what style?: 1896 · Impressionism
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This is a black and white drawing by Aubrey Beardsley—a sharp, young English artist who made a big splash in the 1890s. The work is tied to Oscar Wilde’s play *Salomé*, which got him both fame and trouble. Beardsley’s bold style stood out, but some publishers dropped him after Wilde’s arrest. Beardsley worked mainly for a daring publisher, Leonard Smithers, who printed risky books others avoided. Smithers kept Beardsley’s career alive when most others backed away. Look up more of Beardsley’s drawings at the Victoria and Albert Museum.