A white mouse in a four-poster bed
Watercolour
26/10/1901 (made)
26/10/1901 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Beatrix Potter (1866-1943) left this watercolour in the bedroom she slept in during one of her visits to Melford Hall, Long Melford, Suffolk in October 1901. The mouse is meant to be a representation of Potter tucked up comfortably in bed, alluding to the fact that she enjoyed her stay. She would often travel with her entourage of animals and the children of the family would look forward to seeing which pets accompanied her each visit.
Melford Hall, Suffolk, was the home of Beatrix Potter's cousin Ethel Hyde-Parker. Beatrix visited many times as a break from her London family home.
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.
Melford Hall, Suffolk, was the home of Beatrix Potter's cousin Ethel Hyde-Parker. Beatrix visited many times as a break from her London family home.
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
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| Materials and techniques | Watercolour and pen and ink on paper |
| Brief description | Watercolour drawing of a mouse sleeping in a four-poster bed at Melford Hall; drawn by Beatrix Potter 26 October 1901; Linder Bequest cat. no: LB.1024 |
| Physical description | A white mouse is depicted tucked-in, sleeping with its head on a large plumped up pillow in a four-poster bed, its tail hanging out the end towards the left-hand side of the picture. The bed has yellow hangings and the quilt is pink. There is a brown table to the right in the foreground and other details of the room such as pictures, a chest of drawers and the door are depicted in grey wash. |
| Dimensions |
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| Production type | Unique |
| Marks and inscriptions | 'Oct 26th 01' (Bottom right-hand corner.) |
| Credit line | Linder Bequest [plus object number; written on labels on the same line as the object number] |
| Object history | Drawn by Beatrix Potter on 26 October 1901 at Melford Hall, Suffolk, the house of her cousin Ethel Hyde-Parker. Beatrix left the drawing in the bedroom for Stephanie Hyde-Parker on her departure from the house. the bed had yellow hangings. 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 | |
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| Summary | Beatrix Potter (1866-1943) left this watercolour in the bedroom she slept in during one of her visits to Melford Hall, Long Melford, Suffolk in October 1901. The mouse is meant to be a representation of Potter tucked up comfortably in bed, alluding to the fact that she enjoyed her stay. She would often travel with her entourage of animals and the children of the family would look forward to seeing which pets accompanied her each visit. Melford Hall, Suffolk, was the home of Beatrix Potter's cousin Ethel Hyde-Parker. Beatrix visited many times as a break from her London family home. 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. 1024. |
| Other number | LB.1024 - Linder Bequest catalogue no. |
| Collection | |
| Library number | BP.576 |
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| Record created | November 18, 2011 |
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