Three children on Christmas Eve thumbnail 1
Not on display

Three children on Christmas Eve

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
TitleThree children on Christmas Eve (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Watercolour on card
Brief description
Watercolour drawing by Rosa C. Petherick, ca.1900; commissioned by Ernest Nister.
Physical description
Watercolour drawing on stiff card depicting an interior scene of three children in white nightdresses in a bedroom. Two children sit on a bed with a red bedspread. The other child walks on a rug towards the open door holding a pillow. In the background is a fireplace with three socks hung up on a piece of string. There are various toys in the room and a small black cat. One of the children on the bed motions to the other children to be quiet. A shadow of Father Christmas is depicted in the passage beyond the bedroom door. Mounted on card.
Dimensions
  • Mount height: 362mm
  • Mount width: 304mm
Production typeUnique
Marks and inscriptions
  • Signed by artist in bottom right corner
  • Bookplate on verso reads: 'From the Library of Anne Renier and F.G. Renier'
  • Initialled in ink by Anne Renier on verso: 'AR'
  • Inscribed in blue crayon on verso: 'XXXI', '9887' and '19'
  • Ink stamp on verso reads: 'Ernest Nister / Order no. 41887/2'
  • Inscription in pencil on verso reads: 'Petherick'
  • Inscribed in ink on verso: '12/12'
  • Partial stamp for Winsor & Newton on verso
Credit line
Donated by Anne Renier and F.G. Renier.
Object history
Drawn by Rosa C. Petherick 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, probably for an annual.
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.333

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Record createdMarch 3, 2008
Record URL
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