Artist: Beatrix Potter (English, 1866-1943). Title: "Peter Rabbit Eating Carrots". Medium: Original watercolor with pen and ink. Date: Composed c1927. Dimensions: Overall size: 8 x 6 3/8 in. (203 x 162 mm). Lot Note(s): Signed in watercolor, lower right. Light cream wove paper. A finely drawn work. Overall very good condition; a hnit of staining at the center left margin, a few very minor ink marks well away from the image, presents very well. Provenance: the Artist, gifted to Joy Brownlow, who in turn gifted it to Marjorie H. Hiley, from whom it was acquired by our consignor. Brownlow, known as ‘Brownie,’ was the County Camp Advisor for the Windermere Girl Guides, who arranged regular visits to Potter's properties in the Lake District for camping and admiring her work. Potter frequently gave the Guides autographed copies of her books to give as prizes in their competitions, and joined in their activities while on the properties. Hiley, of Kendal, South Lakeland District, Cumbria, took over from Brownlow as captain of the Guides in 1947 and remained leader until she retired 30 years later. Comment(s): A splendid iconic drawing, the original work having appeared in 1902 in “The Tale of Peter Rabbit.” Potter revisited the composition a number of times over the years as a gift to family and friends. Helen Beatrix Potter was an illustrator in watercolors and author of children's books including “The Tale of Peter Rabbit” (1902), “The Tailor of Gloucester” (1903) and “The Tale of Mr. Jeremy Fisher” (1906). She became internationally famous for her stories that 'humanized' animals such as Mrs. Tiggy Winkle, the hedgehog, and the garden thieving Peter Rabbit. This image is now in the public domain. [29797-1-24000] |