Aubrey (Vincent) Beardsley, an English artist, was born in 1872 in Brighton, England to Ellen Agnes Pitt and Vincent Paul Beardsley. After his schooling at Brighton, he worked in an architect's office. He then became a clerk in the office of the Guardian Insurance Company. His first important commision was the illustration of "Morte d'Arthur" written by Sir Thomas Malory, for which he produced over five hundred designs. In 1894, he became art editor of "Yellow Book" which produced and published many of his most original works. Many believe this periodical produced the purest literature of the 1890's. Shortly thereafter he joined the production of the "Savoy" to which he contributed poems and prose. Aubrey Beardsley died on March 16, 1898.