Watercolour
late 19th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Natural history was a topic of great interest to Beatrix Potter (1866-1943). She made numerous studies of animals and insects both at home and at the Natural History Museum; following one visit she recorded her thoughts on the museum’s ‘insect-case’ in her journal. Her book illustrations are also informed by the keen eye for observation of nature shown in closely observed studies like these, the animals chosen for her vividly imagined characters remarkably accurately portrayed. The beetles shown in this study have been identified as (from top left to right): stag beetle, violet ground beetle, rose chafer; middle; bloody-nosed beetle; bottom; Necrodes lava, Ontholestes tessellatus, green tiger beetle, house cricket and (?)Agonum sexpunctatus.
Beatrix Potter 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.
Beatrix Potter 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.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | watercolour, pen and ink over pencil on paper |
| Brief description | Watercolour and pen and ink over pencil. Study of nine beetles drawn by Beatrix Potter in the late 19th century; Linder Bequest cat. no. LB 309. |
| Physical description | Nine watercolour studies of beetles on one sheet in landscape format. The paper is watermarked 'Turkey Kent' according to the Linder Bequest catalogue; the sheet has since been laid down on a heavy paper. From top to bottom row the beetles were identified by the Natural History Museum as follows: Top row- stag, violet ground beetle, rose chafer Middle row- bloody-nosed beetle Bottom row- <i>Necrodes larva</i>, <i>Ontholestes tessellatus</i>, green tiger, house cricket (<i>Agonum sexpunctatus</i>). |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Production type | Unique |
| Marks and inscriptions | [watermark] Turkey Kent |
| Credit line | Linder Bequest [plus object number; written on labels on the same line as the object number] |
| Object history | Drawn by Beatrix Potter; probably late 19th century. Acquired by the V&A from Leslie Linder (1904-1973) in 1973 as part of the Linder Bequest, a collection of ca. 2150 watercolours, drawings, literary manuscripts, correspondence, books, photographs, and other memorabilia associated with Beatrix Potter and her family. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | Natural history was a topic of great interest to Beatrix Potter (1866-1943). She made numerous studies of animals and insects both at home and at the Natural History Museum; following one visit she recorded her thoughts on the museum’s ‘insect-case’ in her journal. Her book illustrations are also informed by the keen eye for observation of nature shown in closely observed studies like these, the animals chosen for her vividly imagined characters remarkably accurately portrayed. The beetles shown in this study have been identified as (from top left to right): stag beetle, violet ground beetle, rose chafer; middle; bloody-nosed beetle; bottom; Necrodes lava, Ontholestes tessellatus, green tiger beetle, house cricket and (?)Agonum sexpunctatus. Beatrix Potter 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. |
| Bibliographic reference | Hobbs, Anne Stevenson, and Joyce Irene Whalley, eds. Beatrix Potter: the V & A collection : the Leslie Linder bequest of Beatrix Potter material : watercolours, drawings, manuscripts, books, photographs and memorabilia. London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1985.
p.34; no.309
Hobbs, Anne Stevenson, and Joyce Irene Whalley, eds. Beatrix Potter: the V & A collection: the Leslie Linder bequest of Beatrix Potter material: watercolours, drawings, manuscripts, books, photographs and memorabilia. London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1985. p.34; no.309 |
| Other number | LB.309 - Linder Bequest catalogue no. |
| Collection | |
| Library number | BP.401(a) |
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| Record created | March 11, 2015 |
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