Still life study of sea shells, an antler and a Japanese drawing manual
Watercolour
ca. 1880 (made)
ca. 1880 (made)
Artist/Maker |
Essentially self-taught, the young Beatrix Potter copied from nature or from books and drawing manuals, and studied the works of Constable, Gainsborough and Turner in the Royal Academy exhibitions. She was grateful that her education was largely neglected, ‘it would have rubbed off some of the originality.’ However, it was customary for girls of Beatrix’s social class to be proficient at the genteel arts, including painting and drawing, so from November 1878 to May 1883 the Potters arranged drawing lessons for Beatrix and enrolled her at the new National Art Training School in South Kensington to sit her Second Grade Art Student Certificate.
This generic student piece, featuring a Japanese drawing manual, is competent enough. Beatrix was even awarded an ‘Excellent’ in her examinations at the National Art Training School. However, her drawings from this period convey a dark and listless formality that seems in retrospect to be at odds with the light humour and exuberance of her imaginative book illustrations. Beatrix remained sceptical of the value of formal art training: ‘Painting is an awkward thing to teach except the details of the medium. If you and your master are determined to look at nature and art in two different directions you are sure to stick.’
This generic student piece, featuring a Japanese drawing manual, is competent enough. Beatrix was even awarded an ‘Excellent’ in her examinations at the National Art Training School. However, her drawings from this period convey a dark and listless formality that seems in retrospect to be at odds with the light humour and exuberance of her imaginative book illustrations. Beatrix remained sceptical of the value of formal art training: ‘Painting is an awkward thing to teach except the details of the medium. If you and your master are determined to look at nature and art in two different directions you are sure to stick.’
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Title | Still life study of sea shells, an antler and a Japanese drawing manual (generic title) |
Materials and techniques | Watercolour over pencil on paper |
Brief description | Watercolour and pencil still life drawing of sea shells, an antler and a Japanese drawing manual by Beatrix Potter, ca. 1880; Linder Bequest object no. LB.91. |
Physical description | Drawing on paper in watercolour over pencil of a still life study of an antler on the left, sea shells in the foreground and a green Japanese drawing manual in the background with Japanese writing on it. |
Dimensions |
|
Production type | Unique |
Marks and inscriptions | Pinholes in corners of paper |
Credit line | Linder Bequest [plus object number; written on labels on the same line as the object number] |
Object history | Drawn by Beatrix Potter ca. 1880. Acquired by the V&A from Leslie Linder (1904-1973) as part of the Linder Bequest in 1973. |
Subjects depicted | |
Summary | Essentially self-taught, the young Beatrix Potter copied from nature or from books and drawing manuals, and studied the works of Constable, Gainsborough and Turner in the Royal Academy exhibitions. She was grateful that her education was largely neglected, ‘it would have rubbed off some of the originality.’ However, it was customary for girls of Beatrix’s social class to be proficient at the genteel arts, including painting and drawing, so from November 1878 to May 1883 the Potters arranged drawing lessons for Beatrix and enrolled her at the new National Art Training School in South Kensington to sit her Second Grade Art Student Certificate. This generic student piece, featuring a Japanese drawing manual, is competent enough. Beatrix was even awarded an ‘Excellent’ in her examinations at the National Art Training School. However, her drawings from this period convey a dark and listless formality that seems in retrospect to be at odds with the light humour and exuberance of her imaginative book illustrations. Beatrix remained sceptical of the value of formal art training: ‘Painting is an awkward thing to teach except the details of the medium. If you and your master are determined to look at nature and art in two different directions you are sure to stick.’ |
Bibliographic reference | 'Hobbs and Whalley, Beatrix Potter : the V&A Collection, London, 1985'
Brief catalogue entry, no. 91. |
Other number | LB.91 - Linder Bequest catalogue no. |
Collection | |
Library number | BP.1159 |
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Record created | September 17, 2010 |
Record URL |
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