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The Toilet, from The Rape of the Lock by Alexander Pope
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In this drawing, Aubrey Beardsley illustrates an early scene in Alexander Pope’s satirical masterpiece <em>The Rape of the Lock</em> (1712) in which the heroine, Belinda, primps in her boudoir. Reflecting the poem’s emphasis on contrived rather than natural beauty, the drawing is densely layered with artifice. A view of an idyllic garden with a cupola-topped pavilion is glimpsed not through a window as it would first seem, but on a folding screen. The bejeweled bottles littering the table serve as emblems of Belinda’s vanity.
| Artist / Maker | Aubrey Beardsley |
|---|---|
| Date | c. 1895–96 |
| Culture / Origin | England, 19th century |
| Medium | pen and black ink with traces of graphite underdrawing |
| Dimensions | Sheet: 25.6 x 17.4 cm (10 1/16 x 6 7/8 in.) |
| Department | Drawings |
| Type | Drawing |
About the Artist
Aubrey Beardsley (British, 1872–1898) Full biography →
Provenance & Source
Image & data: Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 / Public Domain.
Condition
A detailed condition report and high-resolution photography are available from our specialists in advance of the sale.
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