Study of a Young Man (Purported Portrait of Aubrey Beardsley)
Painting on panel or heavy board • Attributed to the circle of Aubrey Beardsley (despite the 'Sir Aubrey Beardsley' plaque, Beardsley was never knighted; work may be the hand of a contemporary associate or an early 20th-century follower)
Style & Movement
Aestheticism / Late Victorian portraiture with early Modernist figurative leanings
Medium & Technique
Oil or mixed media application over a prepared ground; features sketches of dark contouring and thin glazes of color
Creation Period
Late 19th Century (c. 1890-1900) based on subject attire and stylistic tendencies
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 12 x 8 inches; vertical rectangular format (Portrait)
Subject Description
A full-length standing portrait of a slender young man in a slouch hat and jacket, smoking a pipe. The figure is shown in profile, leaning slightly back in a dandyish pose typical of the 1890s bohemian circles
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Fair to Good; significant surface dirt and discoloration of the varnish or substrate
Estimated Market Value
$800 - $1,500 USD (value is limited by the attribution discrepancy and condition)
Auction Estimate
$500 - $1,000 USD
Provenance History
Unknown; includes a gold-toned nameplate erroneously labeling the artist as 'Sir' Aubrey Beardsley, suggesting a 20th-century private collection or gallery mounting
Art Historical Significance
Interesting as a document of the 'Yellow Nineties' aesthetic; if proven to be of a known figure in Beardsley's circle, it represents a transition from traditional academic portraiture to the stylized linework of the fin de siècle
Notable Features
The erroneous plaque 'Sir Aubrey Beardsley' is a unique feature that ironically dates the framing to a period when his fame was high but historical facts were perhaps loosely handled by a previous owner
Condition Issues
Visible corner cracks in the gilded frame; significant surface abrasions, staining to the back-ground, and darkening of the support material
Conservation Recommendations
Professional cleaning to remove surface grime; stabilization of the wooden frame joints; UV-protective glass if re-framed to prevent further darkening of the support