HIS BOOK. An Original Illustration in Watercolour and Pencil for "CHILDHOOD".

An original illustration beautifully executed in watercolour and pencil. From "Childhood", a 1907 collection of children's verse written by the artist's sister Githa Sowerby. The illustration shows a domestic scene in which a mother works on embroidery whilst glancing affectionately at her child who is writing with a quill. The skilful diagonally trailing composition and subtle use of colour create a harmonious, tranquil picture. The illustration itself measures 12.5 cm x 17 cm, the sheet of paper 14.5 cm x 19 cm, and the gold mount 18 cm x 23.5 cm. Later published by Chatto and Windus, this illustration appears opposite page 8 of the first edition, at the beginning of the fourth verse.

Original works by Millicent Sowerby are very rare; tragically, after her death, Sowerby's niece burned many of them, believing them to be of no value. Childhood, which this illustration is from, was the second children's book she created with her sister Githa. Sowerby's work has been often complimented as sharing a similarity with the work of Kate Greenaway, though her work generally emphasises attention to detail and careful, smooth, three-dimensional rendering more than Greenaway's.