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The rabbit's dream

Drawing
ca.1895-1899 (drawn)
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.

This is one of four known versions of ‘The Rabbit’s Dream’, all dating from 1895 to 1899. The rabbit shown here – thought to be Potter's pet rabbit, Peter Piper – sleeps in the No. 4 bedroom at Camfield Place. Potter slept in this room when visiting her grandparents before they died, and made a detailed pen and ink drawing of the room.

Framing the central rabbit are numerous drawings of him sleeping in different positions, reflecting the many studies of her pets Potter made.

Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleThe rabbit's dream
Materials and techniques
pen and ink on paper
Brief description
Pen and ink drawing of a rabbit asleep: the rabbit's 'dream' shown framed by sketches of its different sleeping positions, by Beatrix Potter, ca.1895-1899; Linder Bequest cat. no. LB.1002
Physical description
Pen and ink drawing with a central image showing a rabbit asleep in a bed. This image is encircled by drawings of the rabbit sleeping in various positions and sweeping lines.
Dimensions
  • Sheet height: 315mm
  • Sheet width: 205mm
Style
Production typeUnique
Marks and inscriptions
(Watermark: 'St. Neots Mill No.24 Fine')
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.1895-1899. 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
Place 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.

This is one of four known versions of ‘The Rabbit’s Dream’, all dating from 1895 to 1899. The rabbit shown here – thought to be Potter's pet rabbit, Peter Piper – sleeps in the No. 4 bedroom at Camfield Place. Potter slept in this room when visiting her grandparents before they died, and made a detailed pen and ink drawing of the room.

Framing the central rabbit are numerous drawings of him sleeping in different positions, reflecting the many studies of her pets Potter made.
Bibliographic references
  • 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.111; no.1002 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.111; no.1002
  • Beatrix Potter: artist & illustrator Frederick Warne & Co Ltd, 2005 pp.82-3 (reproduced) Anne Stevenson Hobbs. Beatrix Potter: artist & illustrator. Frederick Warne & Co Ltd, 2005. pp.82-3 (reproduced)
Other number
LB.1002 - Linder Bequest catalogue no.
Collection
Library number
BP.432

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Record createdJuly 28, 2016
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