Not currently on display at the V&A

Boy kneeling in front of a girl

Drawing
ca. 1890 (drawn)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Ernest Nister (1842-1909) began his publishing career in 1885 when he acquired a lithographic workshop in Nürnberg and printed books for London publishers. In 1888 he became a publisher in his own right with offices at 24 St. Bride Street, London. He appointed the writer and editor, Robert Ellice Mack, as director.

Nister specialised in high quality colour printing for children in the last quarter of the 19th century. Movable books with various mechanisms became his speciality after 1890 (when be published his first stand-up book) but he also produced numerous picture books, annuals, poetry, nursery rhymes, calendars and greetings cards. He worked with a core of writers, including Clifton Bingham and Robert Ellice Mack, and illustrators, in particular Eveline Lance, Harriett M. Bennett, Edith A. Cubitt and Rosa Petherick.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleBoy kneeling in front of a girl (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Ink and opaque water-colour on paper
Brief description
Unsigned ink and watercolour painting for Ernest Nister publication depicting a boy kneeling in front of a girl, ca. 1890.
Physical description
Ink and watercolour drawing depicting a boy kneeling in front of a girl in a garden. Both wear medieval dress. In the background, sunflowers with human heads and elves dancing.
Dimensions
  • Image height: 29.5cm
  • Image width: 24.5cm
  • Mount height: 41.5cm
  • Mount width: 35cm
Style
Production typeUnique
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'From the Library of Anne Renier and F.G. Renier' (Bookplate label stuck onto the back of the mount.)
  • 'AR' (Inscription in ink on the top right hand corner of the back of the mount.)
  • '3157' (Inscription in blue pencil on the back of the illustration.)
  • 'XVI' (Inscription on the top right hand corner of the mount.)
  • '12/12' (Inscription in pencil on the back of the mount)
  • '63' (Inscription in blue pencil on the back of the mount.)
  • '313' (Ink inscription on label on the top right hand corner of the back of the mount.)
Credit line
Donated by Anne Renier and F.G. Renier.
Object history
Bequeathed to the V&A in 1970 by Anne and Fernand G. Renier as part of the Renier Collection.
Subjects depicted
Summary
Ernest Nister (1842-1909) began his publishing career in 1885 when he acquired a lithographic workshop in Nürnberg and printed books for London publishers. In 1888 he became a publisher in his own right with offices at 24 St. Bride Street, London. He appointed the writer and editor, Robert Ellice Mack, as director.

Nister specialised in high quality colour printing for children in the last quarter of the 19th century. Movable books with various mechanisms became his speciality after 1890 (when be published his first stand-up book) but he also produced numerous picture books, annuals, poetry, nursery rhymes, calendars and greetings cards. He worked with a core of writers, including Clifton Bingham and Robert Ellice Mack, and illustrators, in particular Eveline Lance, Harriett M. Bennett, Edith A. Cubitt and Rosa Petherick.
Other number
Nister - Previous Renier Collection pressmark
Collection
Library number
RENIER.235

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Record createdDecember 1, 2005
Record URL
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