There Was an Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe
Illustration
ca.1900 (made)
ca.1900 (made)
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, in particular Eveline Lance, Harriett M. Bennett, Edith A. Cubitt and Rosa Petherick.
This illustration was published by Nister as the cover illustration of his 'untearable' book, Nursery Rhymes and Pictures (no. 870a), printed in Bavaria and published in New York by E. P. Dutton & Co.
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, in particular Eveline Lance, Harriett M. Bennett, Edith A. Cubitt and Rosa Petherick.
This illustration was published by Nister as the cover illustration of his 'untearable' book, Nursery Rhymes and Pictures (no. 870a), printed in Bavaria and published in New York by E. P. Dutton & Co.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Title | <u>There Was an Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe</u> (popular title) |
Materials and techniques | Pen and ink and watercolour on card |
Brief description | Watercolour drawing by Edith A. Cubitt', ca.1900; commissioned by Ernest Nister. |
Physical description | Pen and ink and watercolour drawing on stiff card depicting the nursery rhyme, There Was an Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe. In the centre of the drawing a woman dressed in blue with a red shawl and cream bonnett holds a green bowl and spoons out some of its contents towards a little girl. There are eighteen children in groups surrounding the woman in the centre. In the background is a green shoe made to look like a house with a brick chimney and yellow thatched roof. There are pink flowering trees on either side of the house. To the left of the drawing a road leads into the background. Signed by the artist in the bottom right corner. Mounted on card. |
Dimensions |
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Production type | Unique |
Marks and inscriptions |
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Credit line | Donated by Anne Renier and F.G. Renier. |
Object history | Drawn by Edith A. Cubitt, ca.1900. Bequeathed to the V&A in 1970 by Anne and Fernand G. Renier as part of the Renier Collection. |
Subjects depicted | |
Literary reference | Illustrating the nursery rhyme: There was an old woman who lived in a shoe. She had so many children, she didn't know what to do. She gave them some broth without any bread, Then whipped them all soundly and put them to bed. Commissioned by Ernest Nister. |
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, in particular Eveline Lance, Harriett M. Bennett, Edith A. Cubitt and Rosa Petherick. This illustration was published by Nister as the cover illustration of his 'untearable' book, Nursery Rhymes and Pictures (no. 870a), printed in Bavaria and published in New York by E. P. Dutton & Co. |
Other numbers |
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Collection | |
Library number | RENIER.281 |
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Record created | February 19, 2008 |
Record URL |
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