Thursday, November 1
10:00–11:30 a.m.
 

RSVP:
media@themorgan.org; (212) 590-0393 

 
225 Madison Avenue at 36th Street, New York, NY 10016 

 Beatrix Potter:
The Picture Letters 

 November 2, 2012–January 27, 2013

The Tale of Peter Rabbit and other books by Beatrix Potter (1866–1943) have become classics of children’s literature and represent one of the most successful publishing enterprises in the history of the British book trade. Yet Peter Rabbit began not as a commercial publishing venture, but as a story created to entertain the child of a family friend—all told in an eight-page letter illustrated with pen-drawn vignettes.

Beatrix Potter: The Picture Letters explores the extraordinary tale of how a largely self-taught artist and writer used a series of private letters to develop some of the most vividly depicted animal characters in all of children’s literature. The exhibition brings together for the first time twenty-two letters—including the famous Peter Rabbit letter—as well as printed books, original artwork, manuscripts, and early children’s toys and games inspired by Potter’s stories.

Read the full press release.

Beatrix Potter: The Picture Letters is organized by John Bidwell, Astor Curator and Department Head, Department of Printed Books and Bindings at the Morgan.

This exhibition is underwritten by Barbara and James Runde, and by Susan and Peter Solomon and Peter J. Solomon Company, L. P.

Major funding is provided by Barbara Hanson Pierce, Michael Francis Hanson, and Robert Hixon Hanson in memory of their mother, Margaret Hixon Hanson.

Further generous support is provided by The Caroline Macomber Fund, Rudy and Sara Ruggles, Justin G. Schiller, Ltd., and The Frelinghuysen Foundation.

Sponsored by Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

Images:

Beatrix Potter (1866–1943)
Illustration from The Tale of Benjamin Bunny
London and New York: Frederick Warne and Co., 1904
The Morgan Library & Museum, New York. 87742
Gift of Julia P. Wightman, 1991
Frederick Warne & Co. is the owner of all rights, copyrights and trademarks in the Beatrix Potter character names and illustrations.

Beatrix Potter with Benjamin Bouncer, September 1891
Cotsen Children’s Library. Department of Rare Books and Special Collections.
Princeton University Library
Photography: Princeton University Library

Beatrix Potter (1866–1943)
Autograph letter to Noel Moore, February 4, 1895
The Morgan Library & Museum, New York. MA 2009.2
Gift of Colonel David McC. McKell, 1959