Marquis Franz von Bayros was born in Zagreb in 1866, as the son of a Spanish nobleman. He became an artist, standing out amongst his contemporaries for his enticing and delicate graphic style. He drew a series of erotic drawings, depicting worldly beauties in compromising positions. One of his erotic portfolios, 'Tales from the Dressing Table', caused a courtcase and made von Bayros famous. In 1911, the Munich police persecuted him because of his illustrations and forced him into exile from Germany. He drew about 2000 illustrations in all his life, for books such as Dante's 'Divina Commedia' and those by Hans Bartsch. Franz von Bayros died in Vienna 1924, at the age of 58.

 

A brilliant draughtsman, von Bayros kept the candle burning for the Decadents more than a quarter of a century after the death of Aubrey Beardsley in 1898. His art is an unmistakable cocktail of rococo daintiness, Beardsley-esque technique and witty, decadent eroticism.