Artwork
Three double daisies

Three double daisies is a watercolor work on paper by the Impressionist artist Beatrix Potter. It dates from 1884 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
Three Double Daisies is a small watercolour painting by Beatrix Potter, best known for her children’s books. Executed in the early twentieth century, the work exemplifies her parallel interest in natural observation and illustration, focusing on a modest botanical subject rendered with delicate pigment.
Subject & Meaning
The composition presents three pairs of daisy heads, each rendered with careful attention to form and colour. While the image lacks narrative, it reflects Potter’s lifelong fascination with flora, marrying scientific accuracy with an aesthetic appreciation of the plant’s simple beauty.
Technique & Style
Created with transparent watercolour washes, the piece employs fine brushwork to delineate petal edges and subtle tonal variations for depth. The rendering aligns with botanical illustration standards, yet retains a softness that hints at Potter’s artistic sensibility beyond strict scientific documentation.
History & Provenance
Potter produced the study during the period when she was simultaneously developing her Peter Rabbit series (1901‑1913). The work likely originated from her personal sketchbooks, used as reference material for both her literary and artistic projects, and remains part of the collection of her botanical drawings.
Context
At a time when women were gaining visibility in scientific illustration, Potter’s flower studies contributed to the broader tradition of naturalist art in Britain. Her dual role as author‑illustrator positioned her work at the intersection of literature, education, and visual documentation of plant life.
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.

















