Not currently on display at the V&A

'Cat-echising the inattentive scholar'

Illustration
ca.1890 (made)
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 Harriett M. Bennett, Edith A. Cubitt and Rosa Petherick.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Title'Cat-echising the inattentive scholar' (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Watercolour on paper
Physical description
Pen and ink and watercolour drawing on paper pasted onto card with a double rule border. The drawing depicts a young girl instructing her cat. The girl, wearing a blue dress with a straw hat hanging down her back, sits in the garden and holds a book open in her lap. In front of her the cat sits on a low stool, facing away from her. On the ground lies a doll. In the background is the house and part of the garden fence. The title is written on the card mount: 'CAT-ECHISING The inattentive scholar'.
Dimensions
  • Mount height: 295mm
  • Mount width: 252mm
Style
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'
  • Initialled by the artist 'C.M.' in bottom right corner
Credit line
Donated by Anne Renier and F.G. Renier.
Object history
Drawn ca.1890 by C.M. 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, in particular Harriett M. Bennett, Edith A. Cubitt and Rosa Petherick.
Collection
Library number
RENIER.325

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 29, 2008
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest