Image of Gallery in South Kensington
Not currently on display at the V&A
On short term loan out for exhibition

Peter Piper lying on his blue quilt by the fire

Watercolour
August 1899 (drawn)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This watercolour was probably painted by Beatrix Potter (1866-1943) at Lingholm, Keswick near Derwentwater. Potter often took her pet animals on holiday with her and here her rabbit, Peter Piper, is depicted in a domestic scene by the fireside.

Peter Piper was the model for Peter Rabbit. Peter Rabbit was first conceived in September 1893, in a picture letter sent to Noel Moore, son of her former governess who was ill at the time, whilst Potter was on holiday with her family in Scotland.

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
TitlePeter Piper lying on his blue quilt by the fire (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Watercolour over pencil on paper
Brief description
Drawing of a rabbit, Peter Piper, lying on a rug in front of the fireside, watercolour, by Beatrix Potter, probably at Lingholm in August 1899, Linder Collection object no. LC.18.A.3, catalogue no. 2.52.
Physical description
Watercolour depiction of a brown rabbit lying on a blue-purple rug with its head towards the viewer and facing to the left of the picture. Hamper-style crate to the far left partially in view. The blue rug is on a red and yellow one on a stone floor. Black iron fire-place with a fender and poker(?) partially in view in the background.
Dimensions
  • Height: 209mm
  • Width: 300mm
Size of paper.
Production typeUnique
Marks and inscriptions
'Aug. 99' (Inscribed in pencil)
Credit line
Given by the Linder Collection
Object history
Given by Leslie Linder (1904-1973) to the National Book League (now the Book Trust) in 1970 as part of a representative selection of Beatrix Potter's work. This selection, comprising 279 drawings and 38 early editions and now known as the Linder Collection, was formerly on long-term loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum between 1989 and 2019 form the charitable trust, The Linder Trust.
Subjects depicted
Place depicted
Summary
This watercolour was probably painted by Beatrix Potter (1866-1943) at Lingholm, Keswick near Derwentwater. Potter often took her pet animals on holiday with her and here her rabbit, Peter Piper, is depicted in a domestic scene by the fireside.

Peter Piper was the model for Peter Rabbit. Peter Rabbit was first conceived in September 1893, in a picture letter sent to Noel Moore, son of her former governess who was ill at the time, whilst Potter was on holiday with her family in Scotland.

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, Anne Stevenson (compiler). The Linder Collection of the works and drawings of Beatrix Potter: catalogue of works on paper. London: The Trustees of the Linder Collection, 1996 (1999 reprint). Brief catalogue entry, no. 2.52.
Other numbers
  • LOAN:LINDER TRUST.157-1994 - Previous Loan Number
  • 2.52 - Linder Collection catalogue no.
Collection
Library number
LC 18/A/3

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdDecember 2, 2011
Record URL
Download as: JSON