The Potter collection was given by the engineer and enthusiast Leslie Linder, the man who decoded Potter’s secret diary, the collection includes drawings, manuscripts, correspondence and photographs.
Beatrix Potter: Drawn to Nature explores legacy enduring by one of the most beloved children’s authors of 20th century.
His love for the natural world is evident from the letters, sketches and give paintings on display, a passion that began with drawings documenting the distinctive characteristics of animals when Potter was only eight years old.
For the uninitiated, Beatrix Potter was a British author and illustrator of books for children. She is best known for her children’s stories with animals, such as those in The Tale of Peter Rabbit and The Tale of Benjamin Bunny.
She was born on 28 July 1866 in London from wealthy parents. Her mother was a talented amateur artist and she taught Beatrix to draw as well as to paint with watercolours. Beatrix grew up in Kensington with her younger brother Bertram and their parents. They lived near Kensington Gardens, where she played with animals kept there by the Royal Zoological Society of London (now called ZSL London Zoo). Part of the inspiration also came from his holidays at the Lake District , Potter loved this region so much that with the money she made from the first book she bought a property there.
Exhibition dates: from 12 February
