'And go off discussing the successful operation' thumbnail 1
'And go off discussing the successful operation' thumbnail 2
Not currently on display at the V&A

'And go off discussing the successful operation'

Drawing
ca. 1890s (drawn)
Artist/Maker

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 Potter made many imaginary drawings in the 1890s, before she published her books. This picture series about a guinea pig may well date from this time. In the story we see an unfortunate guinea pig requiring some dental work. Potter attached each drawing to a larger sheet of paper, on which she has given each drawing its caption. While the caption for the fourth drawing reads: ‘The friend and the dentist took a professional interest in the tooth but none whatever in the victim’, the caption for this, the fifth and final drawing in the series, continues: ‘And go off discussing the successful operation’.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Title'And go off discussing the successful operation' (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
pen and ink over pencil on paper
Brief description
Drawing from a picture story about a guinea pig by Beatrix Potter, ca.1890s; Linder Bequest cat. no. LB.1054
Physical description
A pen and ink drawing showing a back view of three guinea pigs; the three guinea pigs are walking away.
Dimensions
  • Sheet height: 801mm
  • Sheet width: 103mm
Style
Production typeUnique
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'HBP.' (Written in ink lower right.)
  • '19' (Written in pencil, upper right.)
  • 'and go off dis- / -cussing the successful / operation.' (Written in pencil on the attached sheet. )
  • '5' (Written in ink, lower left. )
  • '5' (Written in pencil on the attached sheet.)
Credit line
Linder Bequest [plus object number; written on labels on the same line as the object number]
Object history
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
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 Potter made many imaginary drawings in the 1890s, before she published her books. This picture series about a guinea pig may well date from this time. In the story we see an unfortunate guinea pig requiring some dental work. Potter attached each drawing to a larger sheet of paper, on which she has given each drawing its caption. While the caption for the fourth drawing reads: ‘The friend and the dentist took a professional interest in the tooth but none whatever in the victim’, the caption for this, the fifth and final drawing in the series, continues: ‘And go off discussing the successful operation’.
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.119; no.1054 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.119; no.1054
Other number
LB.1054 - Linder Bequest catalogue no.
Collection
Library number
BP.554(e)

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Record createdAugust 18, 2016
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