'Baby wants dolly, and so does Kitty'
Illustration
ca.1900 (made)
ca.1900 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Ernest Nister (1842-1909) began his publishing career in 1885 when he acquired a lithographic workshop in Nürnberg and printed books for London publishers. In 1888 he became a publisher in his own right with offices at 24 St. Bride Street, London. He appointed the writer and editor, Robert Ellice Mack, as director.
Nister specialised in high quality colour printing for children in the last quarter of the 19th century. Movable books with various mechanisms became his speciality after 1890 (when be published his first stand-up book) but he also produced numerous picture books, annuals, poetry, nursery rhymes, calendars and greetings cards. He worked with a core of writers, including Clifton Bingham and Robert Ellice Mack, and illustrators, in particular Eveline Lance, Harriett M. Bennett, Edith A. Cubitt and Rosa Petherick.
Nister specialised in high quality colour printing for children in the last quarter of the 19th century. Movable books with various mechanisms became his speciality after 1890 (when be published his first stand-up book) but he also produced numerous picture books, annuals, poetry, nursery rhymes, calendars and greetings cards. He worked with a core of writers, including Clifton Bingham and Robert Ellice Mack, and illustrators, in particular Eveline Lance, Harriett M. Bennett, Edith A. Cubitt and Rosa Petherick.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | 'Baby wants dolly, and so does Kitty' (assigned by artist) |
| Materials and techniques | Pencil on card |
| Brief description | Pencil drawing by Clara Olmstead, ca. 1900; produced for Ernest Nister. |
| Physical description | Pencil drawing on card (Whatman Drawing Board) depicting a baby in a high-chair reaching down towards a doll which is hanging from the chair on a piece of string. A cat in the lower part of the picture is reaching up to the same doll. The baby has only one shoe on. Title is written around the image: 'Baby wants Dolly, and so does Kitty;' (top); 'But neither can catch her - what a pity!' (bottom). Image incorporates name of artist in capitals in bottom right corner. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Production type | Unique |
| Marks and inscriptions |
|
| Credit line | Donated by Anne Renier and F.G. Renier. |
| Object history | Drawn by Clara Olmstead ca.1900 for Ernest Nister. Bequeathed to the V&A in 1970 by Anne and Fernand G. Renier as part of the Renier Collection |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Literary reference | Commissioned by Ernest Nister to illustrate a poem entitled, 'So near - and yet so far': 'Baby wants Dolly & so does Kitty, But neither can catch her - what a pity! Swaying & swinging she hangs in mid-air, So how can they reach her way up there? Work away, Baby, find the string, Just look at Kitty, all ready to spring, Which will be winner I wonder, dear, So far away she seems - yet so near.' |
| Summary | Ernest Nister (1842-1909) began his publishing career in 1885 when he acquired a lithographic workshop in Nürnberg and printed books for London publishers. In 1888 he became a publisher in his own right with offices at 24 St. Bride Street, London. He appointed the writer and editor, Robert Ellice Mack, as director. Nister specialised in high quality colour printing for children in the last quarter of the 19th century. Movable books with various mechanisms became his speciality after 1890 (when be published his first stand-up book) but he also produced numerous picture books, annuals, poetry, nursery rhymes, calendars and greetings cards. He worked with a core of writers, including Clifton Bingham and Robert Ellice Mack, and illustrators, in particular Eveline Lance, Harriett M. Bennett, Edith A. Cubitt and Rosa Petherick. |
| Other number | Nister - Previous Renier Collection pressmark |
| Collection | |
| Library number | RENIER.326 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | February 29, 2008 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
