Side view of a bat with wings folded
Watercolour
12/1885 (made)
12/1885 (made)
| Artist/Maker |
Natural history was a topic of great interest to Beatrix Potter (1866-1943) from childhood and throughout her life. She made numerous studies of animals from life and her keen eye for observation is reflected in her book illustrations. This sheet dates from December 1885 and is an incredibly intricate study of a bat. There are a number of other drawings of bats in the Linder Bequest, dated between 1884 and 1887. In 1884 Beatrix described a pet bat owned by her brother in her journal: ‘Bertram went back to school September 16th. Leaving me responsibility of a precious bat. It is a charming little creature, quite tame and apparently happy as long as it has sufficient flies and raw meat. I fancy bats are things most people are pleasingly ignorant about. I had no idea they were so active on their legs, they are in fact provided with four legs and two wings as well, and their tail is very useful for trapping flies.’
Beatrix Potter 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 Potter 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 | |
| Titles |
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| Materials and techniques | watercolour and pencil on paper |
| Brief description | Watercolour study of a bat, made in December 1885 by Beatrix Potter; Linder Bequest cat. no. LB.112. |
| Physical description | A small and very finely detailed study of a bat seen from the side with its wings folded, completed in brown tones using watercolour; some pencil outlines are visible. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Production type | Unique |
| Marks and inscriptions | 'December 85.' (Inscribed by the artist in ink, lower left verso.) |
| Credit line | Linder Bequest [plus object number; written on labels on the same line as the object number] |
| Object history | Drawn by Beatrix Potter in December 1885. 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 | |
| Summary | Natural history was a topic of great interest to Beatrix Potter (1866-1943) from childhood and throughout her life. She made numerous studies of animals from life and her keen eye for observation is reflected in her book illustrations. This sheet dates from December 1885 and is an incredibly intricate study of a bat. There are a number of other drawings of bats in the Linder Bequest, dated between 1884 and 1887. In 1884 Beatrix described a pet bat owned by her brother in her journal: ‘Bertram went back to school September 16th. Leaving me responsibility of a precious bat. It is a charming little creature, quite tame and apparently happy as long as it has sufficient flies and raw meat. I fancy bats are things most people are pleasingly ignorant about. I had no idea they were so active on their legs, they are in fact provided with four legs and two wings as well, and their tail is very useful for trapping flies.’ Beatrix Potter 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, and Joyce Irene Whalley, eds. Beatrix Potter: the V & A collection : the Leslie Linder bequest of Beatrix Potter material : watercolours, drawings, manuscripts, books, photographs and memorabilia. London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1985.
p.20; no.112
Hobbs, Anne Stevenson, and Joyce Irene Whalley, eds. Beatrix Potter: the V & A collection: the Leslie Linder bequest of Beatrix Potter material: watercolours, drawings, manuscripts, books, photographs and memorabilia. London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1985. p.20; no.112 |
| Other number | LB.112 - Linder Bequest catalogue no. |
| Collection | |
| Library number | BP.398(a) |
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| Record created | March 12, 2015 |
| Record URL |
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