Decadence Collection

Atlantis / Map
Map showing Atlantis during the period of its decadence

Charles Baudelaire, French poet, essayist, translator
Charles Baudelaire (1821-1867), French poet, essayist, art critic, and translator of Edgar Allan Poe

Poster advertising Codorniu Champagne (colour litho)
BAL23732 Poster advertising Codorniu Champagne (colour litho) by Casas i Carbo, Ramon (1866-1932); Casa Codorniu, Cartells d ahir Collection, Spain; Spanish, out of copyright

The Romans of the Decadence, 1847. Artist: Thomas Couture
The Romans of the Decadence, 1847. From the collection of the Fogg Art Museum, Harvard University Art Museums, Massachusetts, USA

A Banquet in Neros palace, illustration from Quo Vadis
CHT221521 A Banquet in Neros palace, illustration from Quo Vadis by Henryk Sienkiewicz (1846-1916), c.1910 (colour litho) by Checa y Sanz, Ulpiano (1860-1916); Bibliotheque des Arts Decoratifs

Illustration for La nouvelle Justine by Marquis de Sade, 1800. Private Collection

Portrait Of A Gentleman, c1530. Creator: Jan Gossaert
Portrait Of A Gentleman, c1530. Despite his distinctive facial features, this sitter's identity is unknown. His extravagant costume, fine gloves

Art. Entertainment. Decadent concert in Paris. Poster by Jules Alexandre Grun, France, c.1890 (poster)
3434457 Art. Entertainment. Decadent concert in Paris. Poster by Jules Alexandre Grun, France, c.1890 (poster); (add.info.: Art. Spectacle. Bonne societe se pressant au Decadent's Concert. Coll)

The rich man and Lazarus, unknown date. Creator: Anon
The rich man and Lazarus, unknown date

Summer, after Hans Makart, c1880-83. Creator: W Unger
Summer, after Hans Makart'. From "Modern Artists" by F.G.Dumas. [J.S.Virtue & Co Ltd, London, c1880]

Etude de détail pour "Les Romains de la décadence" : Les deux philosophes, 1847. Creator: Thomas Couture
Etude de detail pour "Les Romains de la decadence" : Les deux philosophes, 1847

Le Banquet des dames dans la salle de spectacle des Tuileries (bals de 1835), 1835

Winter or The Saturnalia, 1783. Creator: Callet, Antoine-François
Winter or The Saturnalia, 1783. Found in the Collection of the Musee du Louvre, Paris

Roman orgy. After the 19th century painting titled The Romans in Their Decadence by French artist Thomas Couture

Divan Japonais, 1892-93 (lithograph)
3432915 Divan Japonais, 1892-93 (lithograph) by Toulouse-Lautrec, Henri de (1864-1901); 80.8x60.8 cm; Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

The Destroying Angel and Daemons of Evil Interrupting the Orgies of the Vicious and Intemperate (oil on canvas)
MAN430853 The Destroying Angel and Daemons of Evil Interrupting the Orgies of the Vicious and Intemperate (oil on canvas) by Etty, William (1787-1849); Manchester Art Gallery

Illustration by Gustave Dore for Le Capitaine Fracasse by Pierre Theophile Gautier (1811-1872)French, Writer, poet
5304613 Illustration by Gustave Dore for Le Capitaine Fracasse by Pierre Theophile Gautier (1811-1872)French, Writer, poet, painter, art critic

Illustration by Gustave Dore for Le Capitaine Fracasse by Pierre Theophile Gautier (1811-1872)French, Writer, poet
5304580 Illustration by Gustave Dore for Le Capitaine Fracasse by Pierre Theophile Gautier (1811-1872)French, Writer, poet, painter, art critic

Illustration by Gustave Dore for Le Capitaine Fracasse by Pierre Theophile Gautier (1811-1872)French, Writer, poet
5304583 Illustration by Gustave Dore for Le Capitaine Fracasse by Pierre Theophile Gautier (1811-1872)French, Writer, poet, painter, art critic

Illustration by Gustave Dore for Le Capitaine Fracasse by Pierre Theophile Gautier (1811-1872)
5304539 Illustration by Gustave Dore for Le Capitaine Fracasse by Pierre Theophile Gautier (1811-1872) by Dore, Gustave (1832-83) (after); (add.info)

Illustration by Gustave Dore for Le Capitaine Fracasse by Pierre Theophile Gautier (1811-1872)French, Writer, poet
5304596 Illustration by Gustave Dore for Le Capitaine Fracasse by Pierre Theophile Gautier (1811-1872)French, Writer, poet, painter, art critic

Illustration by Gustave Dore for Le Capitaine Fracasse by Pierre Theophile Gautier (1811-1872)French, Writer, poet
5304594 Illustration by Gustave Dore for Le Capitaine Fracasse by Pierre Theophile Gautier (1811-1872)French, Writer, poet, painter, art critic

Illustration by Gustave Dore for Le Capitaine Fracasse by Pierre Theophile Gautier (1811-1872)French, Writer, poet
5304602 Illustration by Gustave Dore for Le Capitaine Fracasse by Pierre Theophile Gautier (1811-1872)French, Writer, poet, painter, art critic

Illustration by Gustave Dore for Le Capitaine Fracasse by Pierre Theophile Gautier (1811-1872)French, Writer, poet
5304615 Illustration by Gustave Dore for Le Capitaine Fracasse by Pierre Theophile Gautier (1811-1872)French, Writer, poet, painter, art critic

Illustration from Les Liaisons Dangereuses by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos (1741-1803) pub. 1934 (pochoir print)
3025988 Illustration from Les Liaisons Dangereuses by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos (1741-1803) pub. 1934 (pochoir print) by Barbier

They have become foolhardy and have given themselves over to vanity (Ephesians 4: 19... ca. 1570-72. Creator: Anon)
They have become foolhardy and have given themselves over to vanity (Ephesians 4:19), ca. 1570-72

Le Chahut, 1890 (oil on canvas)
3709927 Le Chahut, 1890 (oil on canvas) by Seurat, Georges Pierre (1859-91); 169.1x141 cm; Rijksmuseum Kroller-Muller, Otterlo, Netherlands; (add.info.: Chahut meaning noise or uproar)

The Entry of the Baron of Caprice to the Home of Miss Favors (Entredu... second half 18th century. Creator: Anon)
The Entry of the Baron of Caprice to the Home of Miss Favors (Entre du Baron du Caprice chez Melle des Faveurs), second half 18th century

Le triomphe de la coquetterie, 18th century. 18th century. Creator: Anon
Le triomphe de la coquetterie, 18th century

The idle beauty (pochoir print)
STC226941 The idle beauty (pochoir print) by Barbier, Georges (1882-1932); Private Collection; The Stapleton Collection

Those to whom fools propound, illustration from Rabbi Ben Ezra by Robert Browning (colour litho)
IL370473 Those to whom fools propound, illustration from Rabbi Ben Ezra by Robert Browning (colour litho) by Partridge, Bernard John (1861-1945); Private Collection; (add.info)

La Paresse, 1924 (pochoir print)
STC226846 La Paresse, 1924 (pochoir print) by Barbier, Georges (1882-1932); Private Collection; The Stapleton Collection

Love of Luxury, 1926 (pochoir)
2561834 Love of Luxury, 1926 (pochoir) by Barbier, Georges (1882-1932); Private Collection; (add.info.: George Barbier (1882-1932) was one of the great French illustrators of the early 20th century;

The Toilette of Salome, c. 1894 (litho)
2630801 The Toilette of Salome, c.1894 (litho) by Beardsley, Aubrey (1872-98); Private Collection; (add.info.: Aubrey Vincent Beardsley (1872 - 1898) was an English illustrator and author

Front Cover Design for The Savoy, 1896 (litho)
DGC288131 Front Cover Design for The Savoy, 1896 (litho) by Beardsley, Aubrey (1872-98); Private Collection; (add.info.: Aubrey Vincent Beardsley (1872 - 1898) was an English illustrator and author

Cozy Corner, 1935 / 1942. Creator: Perkins Harnly
Cozy Corner, 1935/1942

Window Alcove, 1935 / 1942. Creator: Perkins Harnly
Window Alcove, 1935/1942

Veranda, 1885, 1935 / 1942. Creator: Perkins Harnly
Veranda, 1885, 1935/1942

Boudoir, c. 1931. Creator: Perkins Harnly
Boudoir, c. 1931

Bedroom, 1882, 1935 / 1942. Creator: Perkins Harnly
Bedroom, 1882, 1935/1942

Sitting Room, 1935 / 1942. Creator: Perkins Harnly
Sitting Room, 1935/1942

Townhouse Parlor, 1869, 1935 / 1942. Creator: Perkins Harnly
Townhouse Parlor, 1869, 1935/1942

Bathroom, 1935 / 1942. Creator: Perkins Harnly
Bathroom, 1935/1942

Second Floor Stair Landing and Hall, 1935 / 1942. Creator: Perkins Harnly
Second Floor Stair Landing and Hall, 1935/1942

Theatre Box, 1892, c. 1947. Creator: Perkins Harnly
Theatre Box, 1892, c. 1947

Pool Room, 1890, 1935 / 1942. Creator: Perkins Harnly
Pool Room, 1890, 1935/1942

Foyers Mens Club, 1880-1910, c. 1946. Creator: Perkins Harnly
Foyers Mens Club, 1880-1910, c. 1946

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"Decadence: A Journey through Art and Literature" Step into the realm of decadence, where the boundaries of morality blur and indulgence reigns supreme. Like Atlantis, a mythical city lost in time, this concept has fascinated artists and writers throughout history. Charles Baudelaire, the renowned French poet and essayist, delved deep into the depths of decadence. In his work "The Romans of the Decadence, " artist Thomas Couture captured their opulent lifestyle with vivid strokes on canvas. From banquets in Nero's palace to Kiki of Montparnasse reveling in a Paris club, these scenes depict excesses that both enthrall and repulse. Even Marquis de Sade dared to explore this forbidden territory in his controversial novel "La nouvelle Justine. " Gustave Doré's illustrations for Pierre Théophile Gautier's "Le Capitaine Fracasse" further exemplify how Romanticism embraced themes of debauchery. As we gaze upon these artworks, we witness an unsettling truth – that humanity has always been drawn towards its own destruction. The oil painting titled "The Destroying Angel and Daemons of Evil Interrupting the Orgies" serves as a haunting reminder that such vices have consequences. Montesquieu once said that luxury corrupts society from within. And indeed, it is within our nature to be seduced by extravagance while simultaneously being repelled by its consequences. This dichotomy is beautifully portrayed in Divan Japonais lithograph from 1892-93. Decadence may be seen as a reflection of human desires unbound by societal norms; it challenges us to question our own limits. It invites us to confront our darkest impulses while simultaneously captivating us with its allure.