Let us Prey thumbnail 1
Let us Prey thumbnail 2
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
Not currently on display at the V&A
On short term loan out for exhibition

Let us Prey

Textile Design
April 1909 (painted)
Artist/Maker
C. F. A. Voysey (designer)
Place of origin
England (made)

Design for a printed textile, based on the repeating motif of a cat watching a canary, the canary watching a worm, etc. The grim humour of the title is clear in the design which depicts the endless cycle of predation.


Object details

Categories
Designs
Drawings
Textiles
Object type
Textile design
TitleLet us Prey (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
watercolour
Watercolour
Watercolour Drawing
Brief description
Design by C. F. A. Voysey for a textile 'Let Us Prey', showing repeat pattern of a cat, bird, catepillar, flower and rose hips, London, April 1909
Physical description
Design for a printed textile, based on the repeating motif of a cat watching a canary, the canary watching a worm, etc. The grim humour of the title is clear in the design which depicts the endless cycle of predation.
Dimensions
  • Height: 74cm
  • Width: 52cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'Let Us Prey' (Handwritten in ink, bottom of design.)
  • 'Forsale 15gles' (Handwritten in ink, bottom left of design.)
  • 'cut off' (Handwritten in pencil, left side of design.)
  • 'C.F.A. Voysey / Architect / 23 York Place [?] / April 1909' (Handwritten in ink on back of design.)
  • '73 St James's St S.W.1' (Handwritten in ink back of design.)
Credit line
Given by the artist
Subjects depicted
Flowers
Canaries
Foliage
Worms
Bibliographic references
  • John Murdoch and Susan Lambert, Summary Catalogue of Textile Designs 1840-1985 in the V. & A. Museum and colour microfiche, Surrey: Emmett Microform, 1986
  • Victoria and Albert Museum, Department of Engraving, Illustration and Design and Department of Paintings, Accessions 1937, London: Board of Education, 1938.
Collection
Prints, Drawings & Paintings Collection
Accession number
E.638-1937

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Record createdDecember 15, 1999
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O15894/let-us-prey-textile-design-c-f-a/
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