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Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Kate Greenaway, Tiffany Glass, Early KidLit - and Sunshine


Boy Holding Apple Pie, 1886
Illustration detail from A Apple Pie
Hand-colored woodblock print
Kate Greenaway, English, 1846-1901
Printer and engraver: Edmund Evans, British, 1826-1905

 

We just got back from Florida – a welcome trip after a hard winter. My daughter’s best friend from high school is doing an internship at Disney so we went to see her and to feel sunshine again. Maybe you’re making plans to take the kids to Orlando to visit the Mouse. If you are, here’s a special treat to include on your itinerary that doesn’t involve waiting in line for rides.

The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art, located just north of Orlando in Winter Park, houses an amazing collection of the works of Louis Comfort Tiffany , along with an impressive collection of American art pottery, American paintings, and the decorative arts.

And through January 11, it is also hosting an exhibit called “Lullaby and Goodnight – Children’s Literature from the Morse Collection”. Trust me, it’s worth begging your spouse to watch the kids solo for an afternoon while you take the rental car, hop on I4 heading north and immerse yourself in the beauty of this museum and this charming exhibition. The focus of one of the gallery rooms is on three early contributors to children’s books – Kate Greenaway, Mary Dow Brine, and Eulalie Osgood Grover. Displayed are precious early books, antique pottery tiles used as nursery décor, and vintage dolls. Here’s the reasoning of that time period:

“…children’s books were part of a broad social effort to instill an early appreciation of beauty and, in turn, improve the character of children.”

 
Enjoy the books, the stained glass, amazing art. And enjoy the sunshine.
Wishing you safe, happy travels that inspire you and your writing.
 
 

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