Three little Mice sat down to spin

The artwork illustrates the initial verse of the rhyme 'Three little Mice sat down to spin', focusing on the mice's activity without incorporating the subsequent narrative elements involving Pussy. The scene emphasizes the mice's industriousness.

Potter's watercolour combines elements of Impressionism and Realism. The soft, delicate execution contrasts with the precise rendering of the mice and their surroundings, achieving a balanced blend of subtlety and clarity.

Originally conceived as part of an unpublished, concertina-format booklet (with a title page and decorated text pages), this watercolour was one of six completed for the project. Although the booklet remained unpublished, elements like 'Making coats for Gentlemen' were later adapted into The Tailor of Gloucester (1903).

This work is part of Potter's early explorations of nursery rhymes through narrative sequences of drawings, distinct from but contemporaneous with her development of the Peter Rabbit stories (1901-1913). A related pen and ink study (BP.634(2)) exists.

While the intended booklet was never published, the watercolour's existence highlights Potter's prolific creative process and her early experimentation with illustrating traditional rhymes. The piece is now part of the collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum.