Drawn to the Page

Caption:

The mother with her child lying very still

Artist:

Elvery, Beatrice

Materials:

Paper (fiber material), Ink

Techniques:

Three colour process

Engraver:

Photographic process

Author:

Purdon, Katherine Frances

Title of Publication:

Candle and crib

Publisher:

Maunsel and Co.

Publication place:

Dublin

Publication date:

1914

Curator Comment:

This illustrated volume of ‘The Candle and Crib’ written by Katherine Francis Purdon, was published in 1914 by Maunsel & Co., Ltd., and is one of a series of important Irish revivalist volumes produced by the company. The cover is illustrated in black-and-white and there are four colour illustrations inserted within the text, the present example being the final one.

Note on artwork:

The mother sleeps, propped up against some straw, her child on her lap, her face turned forward and illuminated by the candle in the bottom left corner. An ass and a cow look towards the woman, their heads lowered. The unmistakeable resemblance to the nativity of Christ conveys the theme of the story, of which it marks the climax.

References:

Snoddy (2002) and ODNB online and DIB online