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Waterlilies

Watercolour
1906 (made)
Artist/Maker

This close-up view of water lilies has been identified by the collection’s former owner, Leslie Linder, as a depiction of Esthwaite Water located near Sawrey in the south of the Lake District. The Tale of Mr. Jeremy Fisher(1906) found its eventual backdrop around this lake. The lake, flowers and lily pads are illuminated by beautiful clear sunlight. Esthwaite Water is now designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Beatrix Potter (1866-1943) is one of the world's best-loved children's authors and illustrators. She wrote the majority of the twenty-three original Peter Rabbit books between 1901 and 1913. The Tale of Peter Rabbit (Frederick Warne, 1902) is her most famous and best-loved tale.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleWaterlilies (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Watercolour and pen-and-ink on paper.
Brief description
Watercolour and pen and ink drawing of water lilies on Esthwaite Water by Beatrix Potter; Linder Bequest cat. no. LB.275
Physical description
Landscape format close-up view of three white opened water lilies and many lily pads amongst reeds. Sunlight illuminates the water, flowers and plants.
Dimensions
  • Height: 230mm
  • Width: 290mm
Size of paper.
Production typeUnique
Marks and inscriptions
Credit line
Linder Bequest [plus object number; written on labels on the same line as the object number]
Object history
Painted by Potter in about 1906, most probably around Esthwaite Water in the Lake District near the village of Near Sawrey. Part of the Linder Bequest given to the V&A by Leslie Linder (1904-1973). The bequest consists of over 2000 items including watercolours, sketches, manuscripts, first editions, photographs and various other memorabilia relating to Beatrix Potter and members of her family.
Subjects depicted
Summary
This close-up view of water lilies has been identified by the collection’s former owner, Leslie Linder, as a depiction of Esthwaite Water located near Sawrey in the south of the Lake District. The Tale of Mr. Jeremy Fisher(1906) found its eventual backdrop around this lake. The lake, flowers and lily pads are illuminated by beautiful clear sunlight. Esthwaite Water is now designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Beatrix Potter (1866-1943) is one of the world's best-loved children's authors and illustrators. She wrote the majority of the twenty-three original Peter Rabbit books between 1901 and 1913. The Tale of Peter Rabbit (Frederick Warne, 1902) is her most famous and best-loved tale.
Bibliographic reference
'Hobbs and Whalley, Beatrix Potter : the V&A Collection, London, 1985' p.31, catalogue entry 275.
Other number
LB.275 - Linder Bequest catalogue no.
Collection
Library number
BP.239

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Record createdNovember 4, 2011
Record URL
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