Eight studies of the head of a duck
Drawing
ca.1908 (made)
ca.1908 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Beatrix Potter (1866-1943) is one of the world's best-loved children's authors and illustrators. She wrote the majority of the twenty-three Original Peter Rabbit Books between 1901 and 1913. The Tale of Peter Rabbit (Frederick Warne, 1902) is her most famous and best-loved tale.
As well as an accomplished story-teller, Beatrix Potter was also a keen nature artist. Her menagerie of childhood pets included rabbits, frogs, squirrels, mice and hedgehogs. Later, when illustrating her series of Peter Rabbit books, she would always sketch her fictional characters from live models. Ducks appear in several of Beatrix Potter's tales, in particular The Tale of Tom Kitten (1907) and The Tale of Jemima Puddle-duck (1908). She sketched the ducks in Putney, London, when preparing illustrations for The Tale of Tom Kitten in the summer of 1907. However, it is likely that these studies of a duck's head were drawn at Hill Top; Beatrix Potter produced several studies of ducks and sheep in chalk and charcoal on brown paper.
As well as an accomplished story-teller, Beatrix Potter was also a keen nature artist. Her menagerie of childhood pets included rabbits, frogs, squirrels, mice and hedgehogs. Later, when illustrating her series of Peter Rabbit books, she would always sketch her fictional characters from live models. Ducks appear in several of Beatrix Potter's tales, in particular The Tale of Tom Kitten (1907) and The Tale of Jemima Puddle-duck (1908). She sketched the ducks in Putney, London, when preparing illustrations for The Tale of Tom Kitten in the summer of 1907. However, it is likely that these studies of a duck's head were drawn at Hill Top; Beatrix Potter produced several studies of ducks and sheep in chalk and charcoal on brown paper.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
|
| Title | Eight studies of the head of a duck (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Chalk and charcoal on paper |
| Brief description | Chalk studies of the head of a duck by Beatrix Potter, ca.1908. |
| Physical description | White chalk and black charcoal drawing on brown paper of eight studies of a duck's head. Deframed; frame stored separately. |
| Dimensions |
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| Production type | Unique |
| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Credit line | Donated by Anne Renier and F.G. Renier. |
| Object history | Drawn by Beatrix Potter ca.1908. Bequeathed to the V&A in 1970 by Anne and Fernand G. Renier as part of the Renier Collection. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | Beatrix Potter (1866-1943) is one of the world's best-loved children's authors and illustrators. She wrote the majority of the twenty-three Original Peter Rabbit Books between 1901 and 1913. The Tale of Peter Rabbit (Frederick Warne, 1902) is her most famous and best-loved tale. As well as an accomplished story-teller, Beatrix Potter was also a keen nature artist. Her menagerie of childhood pets included rabbits, frogs, squirrels, mice and hedgehogs. Later, when illustrating her series of Peter Rabbit books, she would always sketch her fictional characters from live models. Ducks appear in several of Beatrix Potter's tales, in particular The Tale of Tom Kitten (1907) and The Tale of Jemima Puddle-duck (1908). She sketched the ducks in Putney, London, when preparing illustrations for The Tale of Tom Kitten in the summer of 1907. However, it is likely that these studies of a duck's head were drawn at Hill Top; Beatrix Potter produced several studies of ducks and sheep in chalk and charcoal on brown paper. |
| Collection | |
| Library number | RENIER.437 |
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| Record created | June 4, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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