Not currently on display at the V&A

Children giving dolls a bath

Illustration
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.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleChildren giving dolls a bath (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Watercolour on card
Brief description
Watercolour drawing by Eveline Lance, 1900; commissioned by Ernest Nister.
Physical description
Watercolour drawing on card of a girl and boy bathing dolls. The boy wearing a blue and white sailors' outfit kneels on the floor beside a large yellow tub of water and washes a doll in the water. Behind him stands a girl in a pink dress with white collar, holding two dolls. Behind the children is a green fireplace with a clock and two blue and white vases on the mantelpiece. There is a grill and rug in front of the fire and a coal bucket to the left of the drawing. Mounted on card.
Dimensions
  • Mount height: 381mm
  • Mount width: 315mm
Production typeUnique
Marks and inscriptions
  • Initialled by the artist 'EL' on the right of the drawing underneath the image of the coal bucket
  • Bookplate on verso reads: 'From the Library of Anne Renier and F.G. Renier'
  • Initialled by Anne Renier in ink on verso: 'AR'
  • Inscribed in pencil on verso: 'E Lance'
  • Inscribed in blue crayon on verso: '32'
  • Blue and white label on verso, inscribed '5299'
  • Inscribed in ink on verso: 'XVIII'
Credit line
Donated by Anne Renier and F.G. Renier.
Object history
Drawn by Eveline Lance ca.1900 for Ernest Nister. 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.319

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdFebruary 28, 2008
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest