Not currently on display at the V&A

Sheaves of corn in a field, Sawrey

Watercolour
early 20th century (drawn)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

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.

Following her purchase of Hill Top in the Lake District in 1905, Beatrix Potter made many studies of the Lakeland landscape in all seasons. This lively watercolour study of corn sheaves in a field reflects her interest in the working landscape; Potter kept Hill Top as a working Lakeland farm and purchased others over time, beginning with nearby Castle Farm in 1909. After Beatrix Potter’s marriage to William Heelis in 1913, Castle Cottage became the couple’s permanent home and she turned her interests increasingly to farming.

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Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleSheaves of corn in a field, Sawrey (generic title)
Materials and techniques
watercolour and pencil on paper
Brief description
Watercolour and pencil; landscape watercolour showing sheaves of corn in a field in Sawrey, drawn by Beatrix Potter; Linder Bequest cat. no. LB.585.
Physical description
Landscape watercolour showing a field with sheaves of corn in the foreground, with hills in the distance.
Dimensions
  • Sheet height: 175mm
  • Sheet width: 249mm
Style
Production typeUnique
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'Cut a little before Grasmere Games - rained 15 days - / Monday to Sat. 9th Sept dry - 5 carts/some carted 9th - rain night.' (Inscribed in pencil by the artist, lower verso)
  • 'This is Redmaynes, the field next to Far Sawrey & next to the one / we had the caravan in. You can see our barn & roof in / the distance. It is oats this year & will be cut in 10 days / or so. WD. / 11/8/46.' (Inscribed in pencil upper vero by Capt Duke (according to Leslie Linder, Capt Duke gave this picture to his daughter Rosemary and inscribed it))
Credit line
Linder Bequest [plus object number; written on labels on the same line as the object number]
Object history
Drawn by Beatrix Potter, early 20th century. Owned by Captain Kenneth W. G. Duke before acquired by Leslie Linder (1904-1973). 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
Places depicted
Association
Summary
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.

Following her purchase of Hill Top in the Lake District in 1905, Beatrix Potter made many studies of the Lakeland landscape in all seasons. This lively watercolour study of corn sheaves in a field reflects her interest in the working landscape; Potter kept Hill Top as a working Lakeland farm and purchased others over time, beginning with nearby Castle Farm in 1909. After Beatrix Potter’s marriage to William Heelis in 1913, Castle Cottage became the couple’s permanent home and she turned her interests increasingly to farming.
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.62; no.585 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.62; no.585
Other number
LB.585 - Linder Bequest catalogue no.
Collection
Library number
BP.341

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Record createdJuly 8, 2015
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