Eleanor Vere Boyle (1825 – 1916) illustrated poetry and prose by some of the most popular authors of her time. She regularly drew and painted using ink and watercolour, sketching landscapes, animals and her children from life. She also made drawings from her imagination, often reflecting spiritual themes.

This illustration is from her first book, Child’s Play (1851). Boyle provided her publishers with black and white drawings that were then converted into etchings by the printer. These were later reproduced as lithographs, in colours chosen by Boyle.