Library at Wray Castle
Watercolour
July 1882
July 1882
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
A richly coloured watercolour interior view of Wray Castle library, drawn by Beatrix Potter (1866-1943). Beatrix and her family first holidayed at Wray Castle (built 1845), Windermere, in the summer of 1882 after previously taking holidays in Scotland. This was Potter's first proper introduction to the Lake District.
Beatrix’s skilful and sensitive sketching of the castle and its surrounding landscape drew the attention of Canon Hardwicke Drummond Rawnsley, whose family owned Wray Castle. He had clear views about campaigning to preserve the unspoilt landscape and heritage of the region and was instrumental in setting up the National Trust in 1895. Rawnsley's conversations with Beatrix influenced her later conservational pursuits.
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.
Beatrix’s skilful and sensitive sketching of the castle and its surrounding landscape drew the attention of Canon Hardwicke Drummond Rawnsley, whose family owned Wray Castle. He had clear views about campaigning to preserve the unspoilt landscape and heritage of the region and was instrumental in setting up the National Trust in 1895. Rawnsley's conversations with Beatrix influenced her later conservational pursuits.
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 | |
| Title | Library at Wray Castle (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Watercolour on paper. |
| Brief description | Watercolour drawing of the interior view of the library at Wray Castle; drawn by Beatrix Potter July 1882; Linder Bequest cat. no. LB.78 |
| Physical description | Watercolour painting of Wray Castle library's interior. A fireplace can be seen to the left in the foreground, with an ornate clock upon the mantelpiece. There is a bookcase filled with all different colour books, a table covered with a red table cloth and a vase of flowers on it, a stool upholstered in red fabric, a chair and a picture hanging on the wall. The ornate hammer-beam style roof supports are also visible. |
| Dimensions |
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| Production type | Unique |
| Marks and inscriptions | Wray Castle July 1882 (Inscribed by Beatrix Potter) |
| Credit line | Linder Bequest [plus object number; written on labels on the same line as the object number] |
| Object history | Drawn by Beatrix Potter at Wray Castle in July 1882. Acquired by the V&A from Leslie Linder (1904-1973) in 1973 as part of the Linder Bequest, a collection of ca. 2150 watercolours, drawings, literary manuscripts, correspondence, books, photographs, and other memorabilia associated with Beatrix Potter and her family. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Place depicted | |
| Summary | A richly coloured watercolour interior view of Wray Castle library, drawn by Beatrix Potter (1866-1943). Beatrix and her family first holidayed at Wray Castle (built 1845), Windermere, in the summer of 1882 after previously taking holidays in Scotland. This was Potter's first proper introduction to the Lake District. Beatrix’s skilful and sensitive sketching of the castle and its surrounding landscape drew the attention of Canon Hardwicke Drummond Rawnsley, whose family owned Wray Castle. He had clear views about campaigning to preserve the unspoilt landscape and heritage of the region and was instrumental in setting up the National Trust in 1895. Rawnsley's conversations with Beatrix influenced her later conservational pursuits. 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'
Brief catalogue entry, no. 78. |
| Other number | LB.78 - Linder Bequest catalogue no. |
| Collection | |
| Library number | BP.231 |
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| Record created | November 4, 2011 |
| Record URL |
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