The Litany of Mary Magdalen
Medium
Graphite on cream wove paper laid down on board
Dimensions
22.7 × 16.9 cm (8 15/16 × 6 11/16 in.)
Classification
graphite
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
42596
Art Historical Context
Aubrey Beardsley created this delicate graphite drawing, *The Litany of Mary Magdalen*, in 1891 when he was just nineteen years old. Already demonstrating remarkable technical skill, the young artist chose the medium of graphite on cream wove paper to explore fine gradations of tone and intricate line work. This early piece hints at the distinctive linear style that would soon make Beardsley a central figure in the Aesthetic movement and a leading illustrator of the 1890s. The subject, drawn from the life of Mary Magdalene, reflects the period’s renewed interest in biblical and literary theme...