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Shirley Markham Collection (#3)

"Shirley Markham: A Surreal Journey through Time and Imagination" Step into the surreal world of Shirley Markham

Background imageShirley Markham Collection: Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, from The Savoy No. 8, 1896. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley

Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, from The Savoy No. 8, 1896. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley
Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, from The Savoy No. 8, 1896. One of a series of proposed caricatures of musicians. Published in " The Best of Beardsley" edited by R. A

Background imageShirley Markham Collection: Initial Letter V (Satyr) to Volpone, 1898. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley

Initial Letter V (Satyr) to Volpone, 1898. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley
Initial Letter V (Satyr) to Volpone, 1898. Illustration for an edition of Ben Jonsons eponymous comedy play, published by Leonard Smithers

Background imageShirley Markham Collection: The Bathers, 1895. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley

The Bathers, 1895. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley
The Bathers, 1895. Alternative title: On Dieppe Beach. From The Savoy No. I..It illustrates Arthur Symonss article on Dieppe. Published in " The Best of Beardsley" edited by R. A

Background imageShirley Markham Collection: Initial Letters (Vulture) to Volpone, 1898. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley

Initial Letters (Vulture) to Volpone, 1898. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley
Initial Letters (Vulture) to Volpone, 1898. Illustration for an edition of Ben Jonsons eponymous comedy play, published by Leonard Smithers

Background imageShirley Markham Collection: Moska, 1895. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley

Moska, 1895. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley
Moska, 1895. From The Savoy No. I...illustration to Arthur Symonss article on Dieppe. Published in " The Best of Beardsley" edited by R. A. Walker, [The Bodley Head, London, 1948]

Background imageShirley Markham Collection: Titlepage to The Savoy Nos 1 and 2, 1895. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley

Titlepage to The Savoy Nos 1 and 2, 1895. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley
Titlepage to The Savoy Nos 1 and 2, 1895. A woman with an ostrich-feather headdress and a man in Pierrot costume. Illustration for " The Savoy", a magazine of literature, art

Background imageShirley Markham Collection: Initial Letter V (Column) to Volpone, 1898. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley

Initial Letter V (Column) to Volpone, 1898. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley
Initial Letter V (Column) to Volpone, 1898. Illustration for an edition of Ben Jonsons eponymous comedy play, published by Leonard Smithers

Background imageShirley Markham Collection: Cover Design to The Pierrot of the Minute, 1897. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley

Cover Design to The Pierrot of the Minute, 1897. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley
Cover Design to The Pierrot of the Minute, 1897. Illustration for a verse play by Ernest Dowson, published by Leonard Smithers. From " The Best of Beardsley" edited by R. A

Background imageShirley Markham Collection: Frontispiece to The Pierrot of the Minute, 1897. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley

Frontispiece to The Pierrot of the Minute, 1897. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley
Frontispiece to The Pierrot of the Minute, 1897. Illustration for a verse play by Ernest Dowson, published by Leonard Smithers. From " The Best of Beardsley" edited by R. A

Background imageShirley Markham Collection: Initial Letter M (Venus) to Volpone, 1898. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley

Initial Letter M (Venus) to Volpone, 1898. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley
Initial Letter M (Venus) to Volpone, 1898. Illustration for an edition of Ben Johnsons eponymous comedy play, published by Leonard Smithers

Background imageShirley Markham Collection: The Death of Pierrot, from The Savoy No. 6, 1896. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley

The Death of Pierrot, from The Savoy No. 6, 1896. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley
The Death of Pierrot, from The Savoy No. 6, 1896. Characters from the Commedia dell Arte tiptoe towards the dying Pierrot

Background imageShirley Markham Collection: Tristan und Isolde, from The Savoy No. 7, 1896. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley

Tristan und Isolde, from The Savoy No. 7, 1896. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley
Tristan und Isolde, from The Savoy No. 7, 1896. Characters from Wagners opera. Published in " The Best of Beardsley" edited by R. A. Walker, [The Bodley Head, London, 1948]

Background imageShirley Markham Collection: The Climax, 1893. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley

The Climax, 1893. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley
The Climax, 1893. The floating figure of Salome holds the severed head of John the Baptist (Jokanaan). The head has writhing snake-like hair

Background imageShirley Markham Collection: L Education Sentimentale, 1894. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley

L Education Sentimentale, 1894. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley
L Education Sentimentale, 1894. This drawing created much stir at the time...[it was] subsequently cut off and tinted by the artist and renamed Mrs Marsuple (from Under the Hill)

Background imageShirley Markham Collection: The Fruit Bearers, 1895. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley

The Fruit Bearers, 1895. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley
The Fruit Bearers, 1895. Illustration for Beardsleys novel " Under the Hill". From The Savoy No. I. Published in " The Best of Beardsley" edited by R. A

Background imageShirley Markham Collection: Initial Letter V (Elephant) to Volpone, 1898. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley

Initial Letter V (Elephant) to Volpone, 1898. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley
Initial Letter V (Elephant) to Volpone, 1898. Illustration for an edition of Ben Jonsons eponymous comedy play, published by Leonard Smithers

Background imageShirley Markham Collection: A Platonic Lament, 1893. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley

A Platonic Lament, 1893. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley
A Platonic Lament, 1893. A caricature of Oscar Wilde appears in the sky above a nude figure mourning over the body of the Young Syrian. A jester-like figure crouches beneath

Background imageShirley Markham Collection: Salome on [a] Settle, 1893. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley

Salome on [a] Settle, 1893. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley
Salome on [a] Settle, 1893. Alternative title: Maitresse d Orchestre. Salome, in a lace-edged black robe with a tassel which trails on the floor, holds a slim pointed object like a conductors baton

Background imageShirley Markham Collection: Contents Page of The Savoy No 1, 1895. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley

Contents Page of The Savoy No 1, 1895. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley
Contents Page of The Savoy No 1, 1895. Caricature of John Bull holding quill pen and sharpened pencils, illustration for " The Savoy" magazine

Background imageShirley Markham Collection: Portrait of Himself, 1894. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley

Portrait of Himself, 1894. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley
Portrait of Himself, 1894. British artist and eccentric Aubrey Beardsley (1872-1898) depicts himself as a tiny figure in an enormous canopied bed

Background imageShirley Markham Collection: The Return of Tannhauser to the Venusberg, 1895. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley

The Return of Tannhauser to the Venusberg, 1895. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley
The Return of Tannhauser to the Venusberg, 1895. Illustration probably made for " Under the Hill", an unfinished erotic novel by Beardsley based on the legend of Tannhauser

Background imageShirley Markham Collection: Atalanta I, 1895. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley

Atalanta I, 1895. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley
Atalanta I, 1895. Heroine of Greek mythology holding a bow. An illustration to the poem Atalanta in Corydon by Algernon Charles Swinburne, and intended for " The Yellow Book", Vol

Background imageShirley Markham Collection: Frontispiece to An Evil Motherhood. Elkin Mathews, 1895. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley

Frontispiece to An Evil Motherhood. Elkin Mathews, 1895. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley
Frontispiece to An Evil Motherhood. Elkin Mathews, 1895. Illustration to " An Evil Motherhood. an Impressionist Novel, Etc." by Walt Ruding, published by Elkin Mathews

Background imageShirley Markham Collection: La Dame aux Camelias, 1894. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley

La Dame aux Camelias, 1894. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley
La Dame aux Camelias, 1894. Woman standing at a dressing table, wearing a voluminous white coat over an evening dress with peacock feather motifs

Background imageShirley Markham Collection: Comedy-Ballet of Marionettes, II, 1894. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley

Comedy-Ballet of Marionettes, II, 1894. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley
Comedy-Ballet of Marionettes, II, 1894. Two women, one in bloomers and the other in a figure-hugging dress with flounced sleeves and hem. From The Yellow Book, Vol. II

Background imageShirley Markham Collection: The Dancers Reward, 1893. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley

The Dancers Reward, 1893. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley
The Dancers Reward, 1893. A horrified Salome, wearing a robe adorned with roses and with an elaborate curled hairstyle, beholds the severed and bloody head of John the Baptist (Jokanaan)

Background imageShirley Markham Collection: Cover Design for the Cambridge ABC, 1894. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley

Cover Design for the Cambridge ABC, 1894. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley
Cover Design for the Cambridge ABC, 1894. A masked figure and a woman wearing a dress with a long train meet in a formal garden

Background imageShirley Markham Collection: D Albert, 1897. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley

D Albert, 1897. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley
D Albert, 1897. Chevalier d Albert, a character from " Mademoiselle de Maupin" by Theophile Gautier. Published in " The Best of Beardsley" edited by R. A

Background imageShirley Markham Collection: Madame Rejane (Half-length), 1894. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley

Madame Rejane (Half-length), 1894. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley
Madame Rejane (Half-length), 1894. French actress Gabrielle Rejane as Madame Sans-Gene from the play of the same name by Victorien Sardou and Emile Moreau

Background imageShirley Markham Collection: Cover Design for The Yellow Book, Vol I, 1894. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley

Cover Design for The Yellow Book, Vol I, 1894. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley
Cover Design for The Yellow Book, Vol I, 1894. Masked carnival-goers in the style of Jules Cheret. " The Yellow Book", published by John Lane

Background imageShirley Markham Collection: A Suggested Reform in Ballet Costume, 1895. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley

A Suggested Reform in Ballet Costume, 1895. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley
A Suggested Reform in Ballet Costume, 1895. Alternative title: At a Distance. Woman in floor-length cloak with train, decorated with applique leaves and flowers

Background imageShirley Markham Collection: Frontispiece and Titlepage for Venus and Tannhauser, 1895. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley

Frontispiece and Titlepage for Venus and Tannhauser, 1895. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley
Frontispiece and Titlepage for Venus and Tannhauser, 1895. The story of Venus and Tannhauser, in which is set forth an exact account of the manner of state held by Madam Venus, Goddess and Meretrix

Background imageShirley Markham Collection: Cover Design for Yellow Book Prospectus for Vol V, 1895. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley

Cover Design for Yellow Book Prospectus for Vol V, 1895. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley
Cover Design for Yellow Book Prospectus for Vol V, 1895. A faun or satyr, possibly Bacchus?, reads from a book to a woman on a riverbank. Published in " The Best of Beardsley" edited by R

Background imageShirley Markham Collection: Singer Poster Design, 1895. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley

Singer Poster Design, 1895. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley
Singer Poster Design, 1895. A woman playing a Singer piano. The Singer Piano Company was established in Chicago in 1884. First published in The Poster for October 1898

Background imageShirley Markham Collection: Garcons de Cafe, 1894. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley

Garcons de Cafe, 1894. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley
Garcons de Cafe, 1894. French waiters. From The Yellow Book, Vol. II. The original was once the property of the artists House-Master at the Brighton Grammar School

Background imageShirley Markham Collection: The Wagnerites, 1894. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley

The Wagnerites, 1894. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley
The Wagnerites, 1894. An audience, some with elaborate hairstyles, in an opera house. A programme that has fallen to the floor reads Tristan und Isolde, an opera by Richard Wagner

Background imageShirley Markham Collection: Frontispiece for Venus and Tannhauser, 1895. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley

Frontispiece for Venus and Tannhauser, 1895. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley
Frontispiece for Venus and Tannhauser, 1895. Alternative title: Venus between Terminal Gods. A crown hovers above Venus who is flanked by classical sculptures holding pan pipes

Background imageShirley Markham Collection: Madame Rejane, 1894. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley

Madame Rejane, 1894. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley
Madame Rejane, 1894. Portrait of French actress Gabrielle Rejane whose London debut as Catherine in " Madame Sans Gene" took place at the Gaiety Theatre on June 24, 1894

Background imageShirley Markham Collection: Cover Design for The Yellow Book, Vol III, 1894. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley

Cover Design for The Yellow Book, Vol III, 1894. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley
Cover Design for The Yellow Book, Vol III, 1894. The conceit of using two street lamps for the lighting of a ladys toilet mirror was the sort of anomaly that puzzled

Background imageShirley Markham Collection: Tailpiece, 1893. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley

Tailpiece, 1893. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley
Tailpiece, 1893. Alternate title: The Burial of Salome. A Pierrot-like figure and a satyr lower the naked body of Salome into a coffin in the shape of a powder box

Background imageShirley Markham Collection: Frontispiece to 'Plays'by John Davidson, 1893. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley

Frontispiece to "Plays"by John Davidson, 1893. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley
Frontispiece to " Plays" by John Davidson, 1893. Caricatures of notable figures of the day: Sir Augustus Harris (centre), the manager of the Covent Garden

Background imageShirley Markham Collection: Lady Golds Escort, 1894. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley

Lady Golds Escort, 1894. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley
Lady Golds Escort, 1894. People in evening dress, possibly at a theatre. From The Yellow Book, Vol. III. A social satire which was not graciously received by the critics of the day

Background imageShirley Markham Collection: Cover Design for The Yellow Book, Vol IV, 1894. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley

Cover Design for The Yellow Book, Vol IV, 1894. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley
Cover Design for The Yellow Book, Vol IV, 1894. A child (servant?) offering a flower to a woman. From " The Best of Beardsley" edited by R. A. Walker, [The Bodley Head, London, 1948]

Background imageShirley Markham Collection: The Scarlet Pastorale, 1894. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley

The Scarlet Pastorale, 1894. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley
The Scarlet Pastorale, 1894. A masked ball, with a man dressed as Harlequin in the foreground, First published in The Sketch for 10 April 1895. From " The Best of Beardsley" edited by R. A

Background imageShirley Markham Collection: Frontispiece for Juvenal, 1894. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley

Frontispiece for Juvenal, 1894. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley
Frontispiece for Juvenal, 1894. An elderly woman is just glimpsed between the curtains of a sedan chair carried by monkeys. From The Yellow Book, Vol. IV

Background imageShirley Markham Collection: Comedy-Ballet of Marionettes, III, 1894. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley

Comedy-Ballet of Marionettes, III, 1894. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley
Comedy-Ballet of Marionettes, III, 1894. Figures on stage, with cymbals player, piper, conductor and drummer in the orchestra pit. From The Yellow Book, Vol. I

Background imageShirley Markham Collection: Design for a Yellow Book Cover, 1894-1895. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley

Design for a Yellow Book Cover, 1894-1895. Creator: Aubrey Beardsley
Design for a Yellow Book Cover, 1894-1895. A woman holding a muff looks at a pile of books: Story of Venus and Tannhauser, Discords, Shakespeare, The Yellow Book, Dickens. This design was not used

Background imageShirley Markham Collection: The Oyster Woman, c1780-1825. Creator: Thomas Rowlandson

The Oyster Woman, c1780-1825. Creator: Thomas Rowlandson
The Oyster Woman, c1780-1825. Rowlandson, by nature and through his interests, was constantly in touch with his surroundings




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"Shirley Markham: A Surreal Journey through Time and Imagination" Step into the surreal world of Shirley Markham, a visionary artist whose creations transport us to otherworldly realms. In her 1952 masterpiece "Surreal Study, " Markham invites us to delve into the depths of our subconscious, challenging our perceptions and expanding our minds. In "Dante and Virgil with Three-Headed Monster" from 1951, Markham captures the essence of Dante's Inferno, bringing to life the epic struggle between good and evil. Her attention to detail is impeccable as she depicts this iconic scene with haunting beauty. Transporting us back in time, "Picnic" from the 1950s evokes nostalgia for simpler days spent outdoors amidst nature's embrace. Markham's brushstrokes capture the joyous atmosphere of carefree moments shared with loved ones. While some works bear an unknown creator like "Buchanan Castle, East Front" from 1933 or "Basilica and River Gave, Lourdes" from the 1930s, it is clear that they share a similar aesthetic sensibility with Shirley Markham's oeuvre. These pieces seamlessly blend architectural grandeur with natural landscapes, leaving viewers captivated by their timeless allure. Markham's talent extends beyond painting; she also pays homage to artistic icons such as Aubrey Beardsley in her c1893 creation immortalized by Frederick Hollyer. This tribute showcases her ability to honor past masters while infusing her own unique style. Intriguingly contrasting themes emerge within Markham's body of work. From delicate dead plants on a windowsill in 1952 to vibrant houses in Hampstead circa 1950 – each piece tells its own story while collectively forming a mesmerizing narrative about life’s transient beauty. Markham takes us on an enchanting journey through different cultures and eras.