Page:Women in the Fine Arts From the Seventh Century B.C. to the Twentiet.djvu/225

150 Greenaway, Kate. Member of the Royal Institute of Painters in Water-Colors, 1890. Born in London. 1846- 1901. Her father was a well-known wood-engraver. Miss Greenaway first studied her art at the South Kensington School; then at Heatherley's life class and at the Slade School. She began to exhibit at the Dudley Gallery in 1868.

Her Christmas cards first attracted general attention to her as an artist. Their quaint beauty and truthful drawing in depicting children, young girls, flowers, and landscape soon made them more popular than the similar work of other artists. These cards sold by thousands on both sides of the Atlantic and secured consideration for any other work she might do.

She soon made illustrations for Little Folks and the London News. In 1879 "Under the Window" appeared, and one hundred and fifty thousand copies were sold; it was also translated into French and German. The "Birthday Book," "Mother Goose," and "Little Ann" followed and were accorded the heartiest welcome. It is said that for the above four toy books she received ^[40,000. Wherever they went—and they were in all civilized countries—they were applauded by artists and critics and loved by all classes of women and children. One can but hope that Kate Greenaway realized the world-wide pleasure she* gave to children.

The exhibition of her works at the Gallery of the Fine Arts Society, since her death, was even more beautiful than was anticipated. The grace, delicacy, and tenderness with which her little people were created impressed