Introducing Beatrix Potter
Find out more about the life of one of the world's best-selling and best-loved children's authors
Beatrix Potter
The V&A is a major resource for the study of Beatrix Potter. The museum holds the world's largest collection of her drawings, manuscripts, correspondence, photographs and related materials. Besides studies for her Tales, nursery rhymes and fairy tales, the collection is strong in natural history and landscape watercolours and includes some family archival material.
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The V&A's Potter collections began with Leslie Linder (1904–73), the engineer and Potter enthusiast known for decoding Potter's secret diary. His substantial bequest of artworks led to further acquisitions, including his working papers, Potter family artworks, books and albums.
The V&A also takes care of important loans: individual treasures like the 'Peter Rabbit' picture letter and Beatrix's paint box, the Linder Trust and Beatrix Potter Society collections and Frederick Warne & Co. Archive.
Collection highlights
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Drawing of water lilies, by Beatrix Potter, probably 1906, probably Esthwaite Water, Cumbria. Linder Collection cat. no. LC.3.A.2 -
Beatrix Potter with her dog, Spot, at Dalguise, Rupert Potter, 1880. Linder Bequest cat. no. LB.2083. -
Drawing, examples of fungi, by Beatrix Potter, 1897, Ullock, Cumbria. Linder Bequest cat. no. LB.292. -
At Evening's Close, by Beatrix Potter, about 1902, Eeswyke, Sawrey. Linder Collection cat. no. LC.4.A.2. -
Illustrated letter to Nancy Nicholson, featuring the story of 'The Oakmen', by Beatrix Potter, dated December 1916. -
Jeremy Fisher sitting on a water lily, fishing; a preparatory drawing for The Tale of Mr. Jeremy Fisher, by Beatrix Potter, 1906. Linder Bequest cat. no. LB.839. -
Duchess walking down a leafy path, background study for an early version of The Pie and the Patty-Pan, by Beatrix Potter, 1902. Linder Bequest Cat. no. LB.764. -
The Lady Mouse curtseys, variant illustration for p. 24 of 'The Tailor of Gloucester', by Beatrix Potter, 1903, Britain. -
Landscape at Sidmouth, background study for The Tale of Little Pig Robinson (1930), by Beatrix Potter, possibly 1904. Linder Bequest cat. no. LB.828. -
Lady rabbit and gentleman rabbit passing on the street, design for a Christmas card, by Beatrix Potter, June 1890. Linder Bequest cat. no. LB.1769. -
Studies of a cat, by Beatrix Potter, late 19th/early 20th century. Museum no. BP.385(B), Linder Bequest cat. no. LB.131. -
View across Esthwaite Water, by Beatrix Potter, 21 November 1909. Linder Bequest.
Features
Beatrix Potter: a life drawing nature
Explore a selection of highlights from Beatrix's life of drawing nature
Leslie Linder and the Beatrix Potter collection
How he cracked the code of Beatrix Potter's secret journal and showed the world her art.
Beatrix Potter's inspirations
From the most mundane everyday objects to majestic landscapes
Peter Rabbit: the tale of 'The Tale'
"I don't know what to write to you, so I shall tell you a story about four little rabbits, whose names were Flopsy, Mopsy, Cottontail, and Peter…"
Beatrix Potter's first sketchbook, aged 8
Explore Beatrix Potter's earliest surviving sketchbook
The Roly-Poly Pudding by Beatrix Potter
Explore the full, original illustrated manuscript
Illustration inspired by Beatrix Potter's botanical drawing
A brief history of vampires – in print, photography and posters
Discover, if you dare, how Count Dracula haunts the V&A's collections
Experience Beatrix Potter's Lake District
Epic panoramic footage of its mountains and lakes, featuring locations where Potter lived, worked and admired
Header image: The Rabbits' Christmas Party: Roasting Apples, by Beatrix Potter, about 1892, watercolour and pen and ink on paper. Museum no. BP.1471(c), Linder Bequest cat. no. LB.1005. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London