Not currently on display at the V&A

My Pussy

Illustration
ca.1889 (painted)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Ernest Nister (1842-1909) began his publishing career in 1885 when he acquired a lithographic workshop in Nürnberg and printed books for London publishers. In 1888 he became a publisher in his own right with offices at 24 St. Bride Street, London. He appointed the writer and editor, Robert Ellice Mack, as director.

Nister specialised in high quality colour printing for children in the last quarter of the 19th century. Movable books with various mechanisms became his speciality after 1890 (when be published his first stand-up book) but he also produced numerous picture books, annuals, poetry, nursery rhymes, calendars and greetings cards. He worked with a core of writers, including Clifton Bingham and Robert Ellice Mack, and illustrators such as Eveline Lance, Harriett M. Bennett, Edith A. Cubitt and Rosa Petherick.

Harriett M. Bennett's watercolour drawing, 'My Pussy', illustrates verses in Round the Hearth, edited by Robert Ellice Mack and published by Ernest Nister, ca.1889.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Titles
  • <u>My Pussy</u> (assigned by artist)
  • <u>Little Miss Gamp</u>
Materials and techniques
Watercolour on card
Brief description
Watercolour drawing by Harriett M. Bennett entitled 'My Pussy'; published to illustrated verses in 'Round the Hearth', edited by Robert Ellice Mack and published by Ernest Nister, ca. 1889.
Physical description
Watercolour drawing on stiff card of a little girl walking on a garden path surrounded by flowers. She wears a straw hat with a ribbon, a pink dress, white pinafore, blue socks and boots. In her left hand the girl holds a cat wrapped in a floral blanket. In her right hand she holds a large umbrella (closed). Image includes part-frame of wooden sticks or twine. Mounted on card.
Dimensions
  • Mount height: 296mm
  • Mount width: 250mm
  • Card height: 208mm
  • Card width: 165mm
Style
Production typeUnique
Marks and inscriptions
  • Bookplate on verso of drawing reads: 'From the Library of Anne Renier and F.G. Renier'.
  • White sticker with blue decorative border on verso mount reads: '5036'
  • Inscribed in ink by Anne Renier on verso of drawing: 'AR'
  • Inscribed in pencil on verso of drawing: 'H.M.B. / Little Miss Gamp'
  • Inscribed in blue crayon on verso of drawing: '12/12', and '14'
  • Inscribed in purple crayon on verso of mount: 'B'
  • Pencil note by Anne Renier on verso: 'Burnside'
  • Ink mark on verso mount: 'XVII'
Credit line
Donated by Anne Renier and F.G. Renier.
Object history
Drawn by Harriett M. Bennett in ca. 1889 and published in Round the Hearth, edited by Robert Ellice Mack and published by Ernest Nister. Bequeathed to the V&A in 1970 by Anne and Fernand G. Renier as part of the Renier Collection.
Subjects depicted
Summary
Ernest Nister (1842-1909) began his publishing career in 1885 when he acquired a lithographic workshop in Nürnberg and printed books for London publishers. In 1888 he became a publisher in his own right with offices at 24 St. Bride Street, London. He appointed the writer and editor, Robert Ellice Mack, as director.

Nister specialised in high quality colour printing for children in the last quarter of the 19th century. Movable books with various mechanisms became his speciality after 1890 (when be published his first stand-up book) but he also produced numerous picture books, annuals, poetry, nursery rhymes, calendars and greetings cards. He worked with a core of writers, including Clifton Bingham and Robert Ellice Mack, and illustrators such as Eveline Lance, Harriett M. Bennett, Edith A. Cubitt and Rosa Petherick.

Harriett M. Bennett's watercolour drawing, 'My Pussy', illustrates verses in Round the Hearth, edited by Robert Ellice Mack and published by Ernest Nister, ca.1889.
Other number
Nister - Previous Renier Collection pressmark
Collection
Library number
RENIER.247

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Record createdFebruary 15, 2008
Record URL
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