Sketch Book

Whitby, England, 1900-1909. Decorated Cloth. Very Good. 14 by 10 cm. 79 pp with substantial pictorial or textual content, with most of this being or including illustrations executed in ink, wash or watercolor. Plus a painting of a windmill on the front cover and inked monogram on the rear. The artwork is various, with scenery, landscapes and townscapes dominating, especially among the wash drawings, with human figurative studies secondary. Whitby is on the Yorkshire coast, so it is no surprise that depictions of boats and ships are well represented, and one can sense that Hill was basing her artwork on direct observation of local sights and people. There are also a few charming stabs at poetry. Perhaps the most singular aspect of this album is entitled "Art Notes", which contains 55 numbered points, beginning with "Avoid Christmas Card prettiness". This was no stereotypical Victorian! Her humor is even more evident in the next point: "Never attempt to paint a masterpiece -- that is supposing you can paint one -- in a field with a bull." Some of the pointers, though, are serious, and demonstrate that Hill herself approached her art with seriousness of purpose. The dating is based on several items bearing dates. It is likely that most, if not all, the entries were done within these dates. A newspaper clipping of unknown date speaks of a book dealer's discovery of the sketch book. Moderate wear to binding. Fading of the painting on the cover. A few leaves are torn out, but it is likely that this was done by the artist herself, as in one place no continuity is lost to a textual section.