The Death of Cock Robin
Watercolour
1860-1870 (painted)
1860-1870 (painted)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Fitzgerald is best known for his few surviving paintings of fairy subjects, of which this is one. The subject is taken from the English folk song or poem 'Who killed Cock Robin?'
The first verse is as follows:
"Who killed Cock Robin?
I, said the Sparrow,
With my bow and arrow,
I killed Cock Robin."
The origins of this poem are obscure but it is often thought to refer to the legend of Robin Hood. The first published version appeared in 'Tommy Thumbs (Pretty) Song Book' (London, 1744).
The first verse is as follows:
"Who killed Cock Robin?
I, said the Sparrow,
With my bow and arrow,
I killed Cock Robin."
The origins of this poem are obscure but it is often thought to refer to the legend of Robin Hood. The first published version appeared in 'Tommy Thumbs (Pretty) Song Book' (London, 1744).
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | The Death of Cock Robin (assigned by artist) |
| Materials and techniques | Watercolour on card; on the back, pen and ink and wash with white heightening on paper |
| Brief description | Fitzgerald, J.A., 'The Death of Cock Robin'. |
| Physical description | A picture showing the dead robin surrounded by fairy figures in the branches of an apple tree in blossom; on the back a sektch of two people feeding a deer. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | J. A. Fitzgerald / E.[?] G. |
| Credit line | Purchased with the assistance of the late Derek Roberts in memory of his father Charles Roberts |
| Object history | Purchased with the assistance of the late Derek Roberts in memory of his father Charles Roberts |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | Fitzgerald is best known for his few surviving paintings of fairy subjects, of which this is one. The subject is taken from the English folk song or poem 'Who killed Cock Robin?' The first verse is as follows: "Who killed Cock Robin? I, said the Sparrow, With my bow and arrow, I killed Cock Robin." The origins of this poem are obscure but it is often thought to refer to the legend of Robin Hood. The first published version appeared in 'Tommy Thumbs (Pretty) Song Book' (London, 1744). |
| Bibliographic reference | Anne Anderson & Graham Ovenden, The Truth About Faeries Southampton: Southampton City Artallery, 2009. ISBN: 978-0-901723-47-9. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | E.1881-1991 |
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| Record created | December 19, 2005 |
| Record URL |
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