The Picture of Dorian Gray is a by Irish writer . A shorter -length version was published in the July 1890 issue of the American periodical .The novel-length version was published in April 1891.The story revolves around a of painted by Basil Hallward, a friend of Dorian’s and an artist infatuated with Dorian’s . Through Basil, Dorian meets Lord Henry Wotton and is soon enthralled by the aristocrat’s worldview: that beauty and sensual fulfillment are the only things worth pursuing in life. Newly understanding that his beauty will fade, Dorian expresses the desire to , to ensure that the picture, rather than he, will age and fade. The wish is granted, and Dorian pursues a life of varied experiences while staying young and beautiful; all the while, his portrait ages and visually records every one of Dorian’s .