Beatrix Potter

Beatrix Potter‘s life and art combine and complement each other. From an early age, she had many interests, including natural history, mycology, archaeology, fossils and farming, but always she liked to draw and record whatever she was studying. She was born on 28 July, 1866 at No. 2, Bolton Gardens, Kensington, and her early life was typical of many Victorian children with wealthy parents. First a nanny and then a series of governesses presided over the nursery on the third floor and she recorded in her journal that this was preferable to formal schooling. It allowed her to develop her own interests without being forced into a regulation mould.

These interests began with the many animals she and her brother Bertram kept in their nursery, varying from newts, frogs, bats and a snake to the more usual rabbit Beatrix called Peter Piper. The creatures were drawn and painted exhaustively. As Beatrix grew older, her early studies were widened to include different aspects of the countryside. She could not resist what she called 'the irresistible desire to copy any beautiful object which strikes the eye ... I must draw, however poor the result!‘

The best opportunities for sketching came during the family holidays. These were taken in April, two weeks at a seaside resort, and during the summer, three months in the country. At first Scotland was the choice, at Dalguise in Perthshire, but from 1882 it was mainly the Lake District. Beatrix discovered the beauty of fungi at Dalguise, learning much about them from the local postman, Charles Mclntosh. She became knowledgeable about obscure species and studied their propagation. Eventually she had over 250 drawings of fungi, over 40 of different mosses and many microscope studies of the process of germination. Her theory on this process was presented in the form of a paper 'On the Germination of the Spores of Agaricineae‘ to the leading scientists of the day at a meeting of the Linnean Society, but though proved to be right in later years, it was not then considered tenable.

Beatrix turned to her other interests. She had needed money for a new microscope and begun to sell illustrations of animals to card manufacturers; she was lent a collection of antiquities dug up near London Wall in 1872-3 and meticulously recorded these small Roman articles from the first century, personal ornaments, shoes, instruments and tools; she studied fossils.

Whatever her current interest, Beatrix had several young correspondents to whom she wrote illustrated letters. The most famous letter was written in 1893 to Noel Moore, the eldest son of her last governess. Seven years later this was to form the basis for her first and most well-known book - The Tale of Peter Rabbit. More books followed, all reflecting in illustrations and words Beatrix‘s knowledge of flowers, fungi, birds and insects as well as the little animals.

She found Norman Warne, of the firm of Frederick Warne which published her books, to be both encouraging and usefully critical. When he proposed to her she agreed to their marriage. Sadly Norman died suddenly before the engagement was announced.

In 1905 Beatrix bought her first property, Hilltop Farm in Near Sawrey in the Lake District. As her royalties mounted she bought more little farms and land and cottages and in time found William Heelis, a local solicitor, very helpful in both helping to buy and in looking after her properties. William asked Beatrix to marry him in 1912 and the marriage took place in Kensington in October 1913. They went to live in Castle Cottage, one of Beatrix‘s Lake District properties at Near Sawrey.

Beatrix became deeply involved in looking after her growing estate and in the life of the Lake District countryside which she had grown to love. William introduced her to his family and friends and to the Armitt Library, of which he was a member.

Beatrix and William were devoted to one another and the marriage was successful and happy. Beatrix died in 1943, just before Christmas, and her head shepherd, Tom Storey, scattered her ashes, as she had requested, among the little hills of what she had described as 'the most pleasant countryside in the world‘.

The importance of Beatrix Potter at The Armitt is considerable. She gave the Library her valuable collection of fungi paintings and the moss and microscope studies that go with them. She gave the Library her drawings of Roman artefacts, even more important now as the originals have been lost. She also gave the Library a collection of her father‘s books to which she added some from her own library and the correspondence on this subject has been preserved. Beatrix wrote: 'I am glad that the volumes have found a peaceful home. It is very unpleasant to have to auction family possessions, and I have the feeling that my father would have been vexed to see so many books that he valued selling for next to nothing. I kept a good many.' The Armitt has acquired early editions of Beatrix's own books, including a first edition of 'The Tale of Peter Rabbit', and other items of considerable interest connected with Beatrix. The complete collection reflects some of the most important periods of Beatrix Potter‘s life.

Parasol mushroom Lepiota Procera by Beatrix Potter

Newts

The Museum has a display of Beatrix Potter's fungi paintings, changed periodically, and visitors are able to see more of the paintings kept in an accessible cabinet. Objects and paintings not on view may be seen on request by appointment at the discretion of the Library Manager. The Armitt has now digitised all Beatrix's fungi drawings thanks to a grant from the Carnegie UK Trust. All her work can now be seen in the museum gallery and will appear on the website soon.

The Collection that the Armitt holds comprises of 460 drawings; 250 studies of fungi, 40 natural history studies, 140 microscopic drawings and 30 archaeological drawings.

drawing, of the sole of a nail studded shoe, drawn from three angles

A number of books about Beatrix Potter and her art can be purchased from the Museum Shop

The Beatrix Potter Society Holds regular talks and meetings and arranges visits to places of interest connected with Beatrix Potter. A quarterly newsletter is issued free to members and contains articles on a wide range of topics. Every two years The Society holds an International Study Conference.