Kate Greenaway (1846-1901) was an English illustrator, was born in London. She received her first art instruction from her father, a wood engraver and draughtsman who contributed to the Illustrated London News and Punch. Later she attended art classes at Miss Springet's School at Canonbury House, Heather-ley's, and the Slade School, London. At 20 she held her first exhibition in the Dudley Gallery. Her small watercolors of children playing in English gardens were immediately successful and commissions for Christmas cards, Valentines, and for illustrations in
People's Magazine followed. Many of her Valentines were later collected into book form in
The Quiver of Lave. In 1873 she began illustrating the magazine, Little Folks, and in 1879 she published
Under the Window, the children's book which established her reputation internationally. Her work was exhibited at the Royal Academy and was highly praised by John Ruskin. Part of the charm of the quaint children she portrayed came from her habit of depicting them in late 18th century costume instead of contemporary dress which she considered ugly. The artist did not copy from 18th century models, but designed the clothes herself in that style; sometimes actually cutting out and making the dresses. The Kate Green away style in children's clothes was extremely popular during the Victorian period. Most of the Greenaway children's books were supplied with verses by the artist herself as in Kate Greenaway's Birthday Book Jar Children (1880) and the series, Kate Greenaway's Almanacs (1883-1897). However, she also illustrated books by other authors.
Dame Wiggins of Lee and Her Wonderful Cats (1885) by John Ruskin and Browning's
Pied Piper of Hamelin (1888) are examples. In 1890 she was elected a member of the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colors.
