Osbert Lancaster, Broad Street: After Zuleika passed the Sheldonian

ABOUT THE ARTIST

(This text is printed on the back of the greeting card)

OSBERT LANCASTER (1908 - 1986)

In 1952 The Randolph Hotel in Oxford commissioned Osbert Lancaster to produce a series of panels illustrating Max Beerbohm's prose fantasy Zuleika Dobson. Beerbohm's tale, which he himself called 'An Oxford Love Story', relates how the young and beautiful Zuleika pays a visit to her grandfather, the Warden of Judas, during eights week. Before long half of Oxford has fallen under her spell and tragedy ensues. Soon after Zuleika has been met by her grandfather at Oxford station, a mysterious portent appears of the peril which is overhanging the city. For, as the Warden's landau rolls down Broad Street past the railings of the Sheldonian Theatre, the pedestalled busts, sometimes believed to represent Roman Emperors, stare down at Zuleika and break into a sweat. The old don who claims to have seen their beads of perspiration is at first disbelieved. 'It was not until two days had elapsed,' writes Beerbohm, 'that some credence was accorded to him.'