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Circus tamer with horses

Drawing
ca. 1940-1960 (drawn)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This drawing by Phyllis Ginger (1907-2005) is for the children's story, ‘Alexander, the Circus Pony’, which was the artist's first commission from Puffin books where the whole book, story and illustrations were produced by her. Published in 1943, the book was reprinted many times. It shows the artist's lively but meticulous watercolour style and combines her skill at topography and figure drawing. Though best known as a topographical watercolour artist, whose skill led to her contribution to Pilgrim Trust’s ‘Recording Britain’ project, Ginger's first ambition was to become an illustrator. Her style often includes distinctive and lively sketches of people and street scenes, and can be seen in book covers for publishers such as Puffin, JM Dent and the magazine Harper's Bazaar, as well as pictorial advertisements. Ginger illustrated another children's story featuring a horse a few years later, 'The Mushroom Pony', written by Joan Lamburn.

Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleCircus tamer with horses
Materials and techniques
Black chalk and light blue wash
Brief description
Sketch of a circus tamer with horses; Illustration for 'Alexander the Circus Pony'
Physical description
Sketch of a circus tamer with horses; by Phyllis Ginger
Dimensions
  • Height: 18cm
  • Width: 28cm
Marks and inscriptions
'7' in pencil at top right
Credit line
Given by Paul Durbin and Eleanor Durbin
Object history
Historical significance: Illustration for 'Alexander the Circus Pony'
Subjects depicted
Summary
This drawing by Phyllis Ginger (1907-2005) is for the children's story, ‘Alexander, the Circus Pony’, which was the artist's first commission from Puffin books where the whole book, story and illustrations were produced by her. Published in 1943, the book was reprinted many times. It shows the artist's lively but meticulous watercolour style and combines her skill at topography and figure drawing. Though best known as a topographical watercolour artist, whose skill led to her contribution to Pilgrim Trust’s ‘Recording Britain’ project, Ginger's first ambition was to become an illustrator. Her style often includes distinctive and lively sketches of people and street scenes, and can be seen in book covers for publishers such as Puffin, JM Dent and the magazine Harper's Bazaar, as well as pictorial advertisements. Ginger illustrated another children's story featuring a horse a few years later, 'The Mushroom Pony', written by Joan Lamburn.
Collection
Accession number
E.294:3-2007

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Record createdJuly 11, 2007
Record URL
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