Chris Beetles Gallery

(click image to enlarge)

Mary Had a Little Lamb

After Margaret Tarrant

Price

£650

Medium

Watercolour with ink and bodycolour

Dimensions

6 ¾ x 5 ½ inches

Illustrated

Similar to Margaret Tarrant, Nursery Rhymes, London: Ward, Lock & Co, 1916, page 134 [published in colour]

Exhibited

'The Illustrators: The British Art of Illustration 1807-2026' Chris Beetles Gallery, London, November 2026-January 2027, no 27

This illustration from Margaret Tarrant's Nursery Rhymes was republished many times in different formats over the next 80 years. it is likely that this monochrome version, adapted from the original colour version, was for a later publication, possibly by a publisher's in-house artist. Due to the costs and limited supplies of paper and ink during both world wars, it is possible it was for one published during either of the wars, research is ongoing.

Mary had a little lamb,
Its fleece was white as snow;
And everywhere that Mary went
The lamb was sure to go.