Image of Gallery in South Kensington
Request to view at the Prints & Drawings Study Room, level F , Case EDUC, Shelf 2

Book Illustration

1963 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This illustration for Crowds of Creatures, published in 1964, is typical of the book illustrations of British artist Cecil Mary Leslie. Leslie began illustrating children's books in the 1930s, but was also known as an aquatint engraver and painter of portraits and still-life. She worked mainly in pen and ink, but as in this image, she used watercolours, crayon or chalk to add texture and provide highlights. She always drew from life and her illustrations were well researched.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Pencil, pen and ink with Chinese white highlights on paper, pasted onto card
Brief description
Book illustration to Crowds of Creatures, drawing of a herd of elephants for a picture alphabet on nouns of multitude, by Cecil Mary Leslie, in pencil, pen and ink and chinese white on paper with collaged captions, 1963.
Physical description
Drawing in monochrome of a herd of elephants for a picture alphabet on nouns of multitude.
Dimensions
  • Approx. height: 26.1cm
  • Approx. width: 19.5cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • A herd of great, grey, wise, good ELEPHANTS (top of image; printed; ink)
  • CECIL LESLIE 1963 (1) Signature; bottom right of image; ink)
Credit line
Given by Mrs P. Hunter-Blair
Subject depicted
Summary
This illustration for Crowds of Creatures, published in 1964, is typical of the book illustrations of British artist Cecil Mary Leslie. Leslie began illustrating children's books in the 1930s, but was also known as an aquatint engraver and painter of portraits and still-life. She worked mainly in pen and ink, but as in this image, she used watercolours, crayon or chalk to add texture and provide highlights. She always drew from life and her illustrations were well researched.
Bibliographic reference
Clarke, Pauline. Crowds of Creatures. London, Faber & Faber, 1964.
Collection
Accession number
E.1577-1984

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Record createdJanuary 7, 2004
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