Not currently on display at the V&A

French Troops - A Field Day

Illustration
1911 (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
TitleFrench Troops - A Field Day (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Watercolour on board
Brief description
Watercolour drawing by G. H. Thompson, 1911; produced for Ernest Nister.
Physical description
Watercolour drawing on board depicting French troops on a battlefield. In the foreground an officer runs ahead of a troop of soldiers running with rifles. In the background are mounted soldiers, soldiers with canons and other infantry on foot. The soldiers fight in a field, on the left of the drawing in the foreground is a wooden plough left in the soil.
Dimensions
  • Mount height: 260mm
  • Mount width: 300mm
Production typeUnique
Marks and inscriptions
  • 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 blue crayon on verso: '12/12', 'XXIV', '7' and '8237'
  • Inscribed in pencil on verso: 'French Troops - A Field Day'
  • Initialled by the artist in bottom left corner: 'HT'
  • Inscribed in ink on verso: 'H. Thompson'
  • Inscribed in pencil on recto: '57', 'For 1/- Toy Book Soldiers of the World' and 'French Troops - A Field Day'
Credit line
Donated by Anne Renier and F.G. Renier.
Object history
Drawn by G. H. Thompson in 1911 for Ernest Nister. Bequeathed to the V&A in 1970 by Anne Renier and Fernand G. Renier as part of the Renier Collection.
Subjects depicted
Literary referenceCommissioned by Ernest Nister for 'My big book of soldiers. With pictures of the soldiers of the world', by J. A Stewart, 1911.
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.367

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 createdMarch 6, 2008
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest