Scene from The Children of the New Forest. (Ann) Mary Newton (1832-1866). c.1850. Pencil with touches of bodycolour. Size: 12.8 x 17.8 cm (sheet of paper). From the Royal Collection website (RCIN 981658-ah), downloaded by kind permission of the Royal Collection Trust / © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2020.
This lightly coloured drawing illustrates the part of Frederick Marryat's novel in which the orphaned Humphrey, Edward, Alice and Edith Beverley gather at the grave in which the boys had buried their former protector, the loyal servant Jacob Armitage:
while Humphrey was preparing the paling to fix round the grave of old Jacob, Alice and Edith collected the wild violets which now peeped forth on sheltered spots, and planted the roots over the grave. Edward also procured all the early flowers he could collect, and assisted his sisters in their task; and thus, in planting it, and putting up the paling, the grave of the old man became their constant work-ground; and when their labour was done, they would still remain there and talk over his worth. The Sunday following the burial, the weather being fine and warm, Edward proposed that they should read the usual service, which had been selected by old Jacob, at the grave, and not in the cottage, as formerly; and this they continued afterwards to do, when- ever the weather would permit; thus did old Jacob's resting-place become their church, and overpower them with those feelings of love and devotion which give efficacy to prayer. As soon as the paling was finished Humphrey put up a board against the oak tree, with the simple words carved on it, "Jacob Armitage." [Marryat 101]
It is easy to imagine the young artist illustrating this popular Victorian children's story in the royal nursery, or presenting it to the royal children as a gift. Note that a more usual illustration might have been of the children at the graveside at the time of burial, as shown by illustrator Paul Hardy at the beginning of the chapter (X) in the original edition [image]. Newton has chosen to show a later period, when grief has subsided and spring has come. — Jacqueline Banerjee
Bibliography
Marryat, Frederick. The Children of the New Forest. London: George Routledge, 1847 / Athelstane e-Books. Internet Archive. Uploaded by Nick Hodson. Web. 13 January 2020.
Created 13 January 2020