Not currently on display at the V&A

Boy and girl with swan

Illustration
ca.1890 (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.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleBoy and girl with swan (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Watercolour on card
Brief description
Watercolour drawing by E. Heatly, ca.1890; commissioned by Ernest Nister.
Physical description
Watercolour drawing on card of a girl and boy standing on the edge of a pond looking at a swan swimming close to them. The girl on the left of the drawing wears a long blue dress with a white collar and a large white hat with a blue feather. The boy on the right of the drawing wears purple with a blue hat. The swan swims in an ornamental pond in the foreground on the right of the drawing (part of the paved edge of the pond is visible). Behind on the left of the drawing is a tree with a circular bench arounds its base. Mounted on card.
Dimensions
  • Mount height: 323mm
  • Mount width: 240mm
Production typeUnique
Marks and inscriptions
  • Bookplate on verso reads: 'From the Library of Anne Renier and F.G. Renier'
  • Initialled in ink on verso by Anne Renier: 'AR'
  • Inscribed in blue crayon on verso: 'XXB', '7689', 12/12' and '21'
  • Inscribed in pencil on verso: 'E. Heatly'
  • White label with blue decorative border on top right corner verso, inscribed '7689'
Credit line
Donated by Anne Renier and F.G. Renier.
Object history
Drawn by E. Heatly ca.1890 for an Ernest Nister publication. Bequeathed to the V&A in 1970 by Anne and Fernand G. Renier as part of the Renier Collection.
Subjects depicted
Literary referenceCommissioned 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.
Other number
Nister - Previous Renier Collection pressmark
Collection
Library number
RENIER.305

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Record createdFebruary 26, 2008
Record URL
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