Title of the article:

MAGIC FOREST ILLUSTRATED BY AUBREY BEARDSLEY IN “LE MORTE D`ARTHUR”: IMAGE SEMANTICS AND ITS RUSSIAN “REPLICATION”

Author(s):

Irina V. Mishacheva

Anna P. Shlyapnikova

Information about the author/authors

Irina V. Mischacheva — PhD in Cultural Studies, Associate Professor, Institute of Slavic Culture, A. N. Kosygin Russian State University (Technology. Design. Art), Khibinsky proezd, 6, 129337 Moscow, Russia. ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6500-5599. E-mail: irinami2@mail.ru

Anna P. Shlyapnikova — Lecturer, Institute of Slavic Culture, A. N. Kosygin Russian State University (Technology. Design. Art), Khibinsky proezd, 6, 129337 Moscow, Russia. ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2122-3049. E-mail: a.shl@yandex.ru.

Section

History of Arts

Year

2021

Volume

Vol. 62

Pages

pp. 325–343

Received

August 27, 2021

Date of publication

December 28, 2021

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37816/2073-9567-2021-62-325-343

Index UDK

76.03

Index BBK

85.153(2)+85.153(3)

Abstract

The “magic forest” illustrated by Aubrey Beardsley in spite of the continuity in relation to the Pre-Raphaelite and the reconstructed Middle Ages / Renaissance in the works, dedicated to Arthur on the pages of the Kelmscott Press publications, has a number of peculiar features. The semantics of the natural images of the black-and-white illustrations to Thomas Malory's “Le Morte D`Arthur” turns out to be consonant with both the folklore (pagan in its essence) ideas about the forest as other world, and the Christian symbolism of the passion forest, this uncultivated “exile lands”. The essential features of the “Beardsley`s forest” can include its gloominess (black grass, spectacular haze of frames), inaccessibility (thickets of giant bindweed “stifling” knights, fence of trunks, represented as the border of the forest edge, thorns, reminding of the torments of earthly love and its sinfulness). Thomas Malory reduces the element of unbelievable in his narration; Beardsley, on the contrary, returns dragons, fairies, satyrs to the Forest. The paper addresses the background of the first publications of his “forest” graphics in Russia, notes the transfer of emphasis from the medieval forest topic to the motif of the landscape garden that is more consonant with the rockail aesthetics. The authors also draw comparison of interpretation of the forest image and its goat-footed guardians, satyrs, in the representation of the English illustrator and in the text of the “Northern Symphony” by A. Bely.

Keywords

Aubrey Beardsley, illustrations to T. Malory`s “Le Morte D`Arthur”, forest as an image of the other world, symbolism in the landscape, desolation landscape (nature after the Fall), magic forest, semantics and stylistics of images of forest fairies, dragons, satyrs.

References

1 Al'brekht Diurer. Shedevry graviury iz Pinakoteki Tozio Martinego [Albrecht Durer. Masterpieces of Engraving from Pinacoteca Tosio Martinengo in Brescia], Vystavka v Gosudarstvennom istoricheskom muzee [Exhibition complex. State Historical Museum]. Moscow, GIM Publ., 2021. 292 p. (In Russian)

2 Akimova L. I. Iskusstvo Drevnei Gretsii: Klassika [The Art of Ancient Greece]. St. Petersburg, Azbuka-klassika Publ., 2007. 464 p. (In Russian)

3 Belyi A. Severnaia simfoniia (1-ia, geroicheskaia) [Northern Symphony (1st, heroic) ]. Moscow, Skorpion Publ., 1904. 121 p. (In Russian)

4 Vesy. 1905. No 1 (11). Available at: https://rusneb.ru/catalog/000200_000018_RU_NLR_DIGIT_520520 (accessed 11 June 2021). (In Russian)

5 Viazova E. “Moskovskii Berdslei”, “russkii Oskar Uail'd”: angliiskii estetizm v russkoi kul'ture rubezha vekov [“Moscow Beardsley”, “Russian Oscar Wilde”: English Aesthetisism in Russian Culture a the Turn of the Century]. In: Oskar Uail'd. Obri Berdslei. Vzgliad iz Rossii [Oscar Wilde. Aubrey Beardsley. Viev from Russia]. Moscow, Izdatel'stvo GMII im. A. S. Pushkina Publ., 2014, pp. 39–49. (In Russian)

6 Gal'frid Monmutskii. Istoriia brittov. Zhizn' Merlina [Histories of the kings of Britain. Life of Merlin], the publication was prepared by A. S. Bobovich and other; executive edited by A. D. Mikhailov. Moscow, Nauka Publ., 1984. 287 p. (In Russian)

7 Klark K. Peizazh v iskusstve [Landscape in art], translated from English by N. N. Tikhonov. St. Petersburg, Azbuka-klassika Publ., 2004. 304 p. (In Russian)

8 Kronidov N. Printsessa Lera [Princess Lera], drawings by. N. Kalmakova; chromolithography by O. D. Borozdina. St. Petersburg, The author's edition, 1911. 40 p. (In Russian)

9 Mir iskusstva. 1899. Vol. 1. No 1–2, 3–4, 5–6, 7–8, 9–10, 11–12. Available at: https://rusneb.ru/catalog/000200_000018_pb00000119/ (accessed 11 June 2021). (In Russian)

10 Mir iskusstva. 1900. Vol. 3. No 1–2, 3–10, 11–12. Available at: https://rusneb.ru/catalog/000200_000018_pb00000102/ (accessed 11 June 2021). (In Russian)

11 Melori T. Smert' Artura [The Death of Arthur], edition prepared by I. M. Bershtein and other; notes by I. M. Bernshteina; illustrations by O. Berdslei. Moscow, Nauka Publ., 1974. 899 p. (In Russian)

12 Sokolov M. N. Sad. Buria. T'ma. O simvolike prirody v iskusstve Novogo vremeni [Garden. Storm. Dark. On the symbolism of nature in the art of Modern times]. Moscow, RIP-kholding Publ., 2019. 527 p. (In Russian)

13 Sterdzhis M. Obri Berdslei. Biografiia [Aubrey Beardsley. Biography], translated from English by K. Savel'ev. Moscow, KoLibri Publ., Azbuka-Attikus Publ., 2014. 432 p. (In Russian)

14 Tennison A. Korolevskie idillii [Idylls of the King], translated from English by V. Lunina. Moscow, Grant" Publ., 2001. 475 p. (In Russian)

15 Beardsley A. Beardsley’s Le Morte Darthur: Selected illustrations. New York, Dover Publication Publ., 1995. 44 p. (Dover Art Library) (In English)

16 Dore G. Dore`s illustrations vor “Idylls of the King”. New York, Dover Publication Publ., 1995. IV. 73 p. (Dover Art Library) (In English)

17 Malory T., Sir. Morte Dartuhur. The birth, life, and acts of King Arthur: of his noble knights of the Round table their marvellous enquests and adventures the achieving of the San Greal and in the end le morte Darthur with the dolourous death and departing out of this world of them all. [London], J. M. Dent Publ., 1893–1894. Vol. I. Original from University of California. Available at: https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1 Vol. II. Available at: https://archive.org/details/TheBirthLifeAndActsOfKingArthur2 (accessed 11 May 2021). (In English)

18 Nielson C., Melly G. The Spirit of Beardsley. New York, Gramercy Books Publ., s. a. 44 p. (In English)

19 The Studio. April 1893. Vol. 1. No 1. Available at: https://archive.studiointernational.com/TheStudio/TS1893/april/The-Studio-Vol1-No1-April-1893.html (accessed 11 May 2021).

PDF-file

Download