Artist: Beatrix Potter (English, 1866-1943). Title: "Peter Rabbit Running". Medium: Original watercolor with pen and ink. Date: Composed c1929. Dimensions: Overall size: 6 7/16 x 4 3/4 in. (164 x 121 mm). Lot Note(s): Signed in watercolor, lower right. Light cream wove paper. A finely drawn work. Very good condition; very minor staining at the center right margin, overall the work 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 as the cover illustration of the First Edition First Issue of “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. [29798-1-24000] |