Susan B Pearse: Perfect Little Works of Art

Today I’m sharing more images from an album or possibly a book of *samples, which would have been carried by a salesman. What little I know about the images, and the album will be found here. I was very happy to acquire this, but it seems a shame to leave it hidden away hence I’m sharing it with you. I really hope you enjoy these ‘perfect little works of art’ as much as I do.  

All of today’s images are by Susan Beatrice Pearse (1878 – 1980)

Images by Susan B Pearse Reference numbers D. 5331 to D. 5336

Susan B. Pearse was a British painter and illustrator born on the 19th January 1878 in Kennington, South London. She was the daughter of the journalist, William Pearse. Though educated at King Edward’s School, Southwark, she spent much of her childhood in Fair Oak, near Eastleigh, Hampshire. She studied at New Cross Art School and the Royal College of Art. While at the RCA, she met the portrait painter, Walter Ernest Webster and they married in Fulham in 1919. Her later years were spent at Blewbury, Berkshire a village then popular with authors and artist. She died on the 3rd January 1980, 18 days before her 102nd birthday. Best known as a book illustrator Susan also created drawings for postcards and greeting cards. Her other illustrative work included contributions to Arthur Mee’s Children’s Encyclopaedia and an advertising campaign for Start-rite Shoes.

Sources;

Wikipedia

Chris Beetles

The Dictionary of British Women Artists. Gray, Sara. Lutterworth Press, 2009.

Morning Walk D. 5333 (top row) colour image found at Bonhams

A larger version of one of the images from the album (above)

Where are they?  D. 5332 (top row) colour image found on Pinterest

Images by Susan B Pearse Reference numbers D. 5161 to D. 5166

The album pages (above and below) show a series of numbered images. My assumption is these were used as birthday cards or perhaps to illustrate a counting book. 

Images by Susan B Pearse Reference numbers D. 5167 to D. 5172

The Number 3 in colour (image Pinterest) 

Images by Susan B Pearse Reference numbers D. 5301 to D. 5306

The images above tell the story of the birth of the Baby Jesus. Were they used to illustrate a book or a series of postcards / Christmas cards? If you know, please get in touch, either by leaving a comment or sending an email (link in right-hand column), thank you.  

Massive thanks are due to everyone who responded to my last ‘perfect little works of art’ post. Most of the places in the images by Fred Taylor have been identified. I’ve also received lots of very useful information from a relative of J. Francis Smith, and have amended the post accordingly. You can see all the changes here.

*Salesman samples are scaled-down versions of real products used to demonstrate features to retailers or potential customers. Also known as salesmen samples or salesman’s samples, these miniature goods were popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, as they were easily transportable by travelling salespeople and allowed dealers to display a variety of items in their showrooms. Read More Collectors Weekly.com

Images previously shared

Phyllis Purser; here

Fred Taylor; here

J. Francis Smith; here