Artwork
'Making coats for Gentlemen'
'Making coats for Gentlemen' is a watercolor work on paper by the Impressionist artist Beatrix Potter. It dates from 1892 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
This watercolor shows a quiet scene of mice working with thread and cloth. Beatrix Potter painted it around 1892 as part of an unfinished booklet based on a nursery rhyme.
Potter studied mice closely for every whisker and fold of fabric. She left the project half done, so only six pictures from the rhyme survive.
Look for more mice stories by Beatrix Potter.
Overview
Making coats for Gentlemen is a watercolour by Beatrix Potter, created circa 1892 as part of an unpublished illustrated booklet based on the nursery rhyme 'Three little mice sat down to spin'. The work depicts a serene scene of mice engaged in tailoring.
Subject & Meaning
The watercolour illustrates the specific line from the rhyme: 'Making coats for Gentlemen'. It showcases mice diligently working with thread and cloth, highlighting Potter's attention to detail in both the animals' physiology and the fabric textures.
Technique & Style
Potter employed watercolour to create a quiet, detailed scene. Her meticulous study of mice and fabrics is evident, reflecting her characteristic observational skill. A related pen and ink study (BP.634(5)) exists, demonstrating her multi-stage creative process.
History & Provenance
Originally intended for an unpublished, potentially concertina-format booklet, this watercolour was later adapted for 'The Tailor of Gloucester' (1903). Only six of the planned illustrations for the rhyme were completed, with this piece being the fourth design.
Context
'Making coats for Gentlemen' is part of Potter's early explorations of nursery rhymes through illustration, a period that also laid the groundwork for her famous Peter Rabbit stories (1901-1913), notably 'The Tale of Peter Rabbit' (1902).
Legacy
While the original booklet remained unpublished, the watercolour's incorporation into 'The Tailor of Gloucester' (1903) ensured its visibility. It remains a testament to Potter's early artistic development and her enduring fascination with illustrating animal-centric narratives.
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.
'Oh no! Miss Pussy, you'd bite off our heads'
Three little Mice sat down to spin
'Shall I come in, and cur off your threads?'
'What are you at, my fine little Men?'
Pussy passed by, and she peeped in
A mouse knitting
Gentleman mouse bowing beside a teacup
Title page design for 'Three little mice sat down to spin'
Untitled
Lady mouse curtseying beside a tea-cup
Lady rabbit and gentleman rabbit passing on the street
Two rabbits in hats and coats with walking sticks walking through snow