Artwork
Jeremy Fisher sitting fishing on a waterlily leaf: preparatory drawing for The tale of Mr. Jeremy Fisher
Jeremy Fisher sitting fishing on a waterlily leaf: preparatory drawing for The tale of Mr. Jeremy Fisher is a watercolor work on paper by the Post-Impressionist artist Beatrix Potter. It dates from 1906 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. This watercolour drawing depicts a frog, Jeremy Fisher, seated on a lily pad, engaged in fishing.
About this work
Overview
This watercolour drawing depicts a frog, Jeremy Fisher, seated on a lily pad, engaged in fishing. Created by Beatrix Potter around 1906, it is a preparatory work for her story, The Tale of Mr. Jeremy Fisher.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing shows Jeremy Fisher, a frog character, sitting cross-legged on a green lily pad, fishing with a rod. He wears black slippers and an uncoloured coat, with a basket beside him, amidst green reeds in the background.
Technique & Style
Executed in a sketchy manner, the work combines watercolour, pen-and-ink, and pencil. The colouring is partial, creating a soft, dreamy effect. The background features a blurred mix of greens and yellows, suggesting water and foliage.
History & Provenance
The drawing was created around 1906 by Beatrix Potter and later acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum in 1973 as part of the Linder Bequest.
Artist & collection
Artist
Helen Beatrix Heelis (née Potter; 28 July 1866 – 22 December 1943), usually known as Beatrix Potter ( BEE-ə-triks), was an English writer, illustrator, natural scientist, and conservationist.
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