Not currently on display at the V&A

March April

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, Lizzie Lawson, Harriett M. Bennett, Edith A. Cubitt and Rosa Petherick.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Titles
  • March April (assigned by artist)
  • Calendar (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Pen and ink and watercolour on card
Brief description
Pen and ink and watercolour drawing for a calendar by Hubert Whatley, ca. 1900; produced for Ernest Nister.
Physical description
Pen and ink and watercolour drawing on card depicting a Scottish soldier, wearing a kilt, walking in the wind and holding his hat. In the background a woman pushing a pram in the opposite direction looks over at the soldier. Behind her is a stretch of metal railings with trees beyond. A dog stands in the middle of the road between the woman and soldier. With box at the bottom of the drawing: 'MARCH APRIL' Mounted on card.
Dimensions
  • Mount height: 333mm
  • Mount width: 258mm
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: 'XXB' and '6'
  • Inscribed in pencil by Anne Renier on verso: 'Whatley'
  • Inscribed in pencil on verso: '7634'
Credit line
Donated by Anne Renier and F.G. Renier.
Object history
Drawn by Hubert Whatley for a calendar ca. 1900; commissioned by 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.
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, Lizzie Lawson, Harriett M. Bennett, Edith A. Cubitt and Rosa Petherick.
Other number
Nister - Previous Renier Collection pressmark
Collection
Library number
RENIER.377

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Record createdMarch 11, 2008
Record URL
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