Bon Mots and Grotesques

by Aubrey Beardsley

Matthew Sturgis

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Book cover for Bon Mots and Grotesques

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'To critics who said that the full-lipped so-called 'Beardsley mouth', which adorned many of his women, was 'inexpressive and ugly', the artist countered, 'Well, let them criticise. It's my mouth and not theirs. I like big mouths. People like the little mouth - the "Dolly Varden" mouth, if that describes it better. A big mouth is the sign of character and strength. Look at Ellen Terry with her great, strong mouth. In fact, I haven't any patience with small-mouthed people.' 'The popular idea of a picture is something told in oil or writ in water to be hung on a room's wall or in a picture gallery to perplex an artless public.' 'To my mind, there is nothing so depressing as a Gothic cathedral. I hate to have the sun shut out by the saints.' 'What a nice ample creature George Sand is: like a wonderful old cow with all her calves.' And other witty, urbane insights on life, art, and culture, illustrated with selected drawings from his Grotesques series.

  • ISBN10 1843681919
  • ISBN13 9781843681915
  • Publish Date 1 March 2020
  • Publish Status Active
  • Publish Country GB
  • Imprint Pallas Athene Publishers
  • Format Paperback
  • Pages 96
  • Language English