Kate Greenaway
KATE GREENAWAY
1846-1901
Artist and illustrator of children‘s books
Was born at 1 Cavendish Street
Which stood near this site
(off New North Road)
Originally named Catherine, Kate was born in March 1846 in Hoxton. Her father was a master engraver and her mother was an accomplished seamstress. Her father’s occupation clearly influenced her choice of profession. Kate had a happy and carefree childhood and enjoyed watching the well-dressed people come in and out of her mother’s dress making shop. She had a photographic memory and many of the outfits her mother made reappeared in her books later.
Kate had little formal schooling; she did not always pay attention and was often caught drawing. At the age of 12 she was enrolled in the Finsbury School of Art which she attended for 6 years.
Her fathers trade connections proved very profitable to Kate and he helped her get a few small commissions. In 1867, Kate produced her first printed piece and she also started doing greeting card, calendar and book illustrations. One of her card designs sold over 25,000 copies in just a few weeks. Although she was paid only 3 pounds she was starting to be noticed.
Her first book was produced in collaboration with Edmund Evans, with whom her father had apprenticed. Evans spared no expense and the 20,000 copies sold almost immediately so a second printing of 70,000 was produced.
Kate became friendly with Randolph Caldecott, a talented book artist of the time with whom Kate remained a friendly rival until his death in 1886. Kate illustrated her first almanac in 1883 and it sold over 90,000 copies. Her drawings were enormously popular in America and Britain and imitators were aplenty. Greenaway items started appearing everywhere including on wallpaper, plates, scarves, fashions and dolls. By this time she had made many wealthy friends and was often commissioned to do portraits of their children. She was now exhibiting at the Royal Academy and her work sold easily, however, with fame came more criticism.
Kate had been corresponding with John Ruskin, a famous art critic for several years and although he could be lavish with his praise, his criticism could be very harsh. Ruskin felt that book illustration was a lower art and encouraged Kate to become a real painter. He encouraged her to do nature studies in watercolour, but Kate continued with book illustration as it provided a healthy income for her.
In 1884 Kate published The Language of Flowers, considered by many to be her finest book. She continued to paint watercolours, yet she failed to match the success of previous years. The death of her father and mother in 1890 and 1894 respectively were a serious blow for Kate and having lavished expense on a new house money was now tight. Along with the low sales of her watercolours and the few illustration jobs that were coming in Kate became increasingly tired and depressed.
The death of John Ruskin in 1900 was yet another blow for Kate and by this time she had been diagnosed as having breast cancer. Unfortunately, she decided on having the life saving surgery too late and died on 6th November, 1901.
In 1955 the Library Association of Great Britain established the Kate Greenaway Medal. It is awarded annually to the artist living and publishing in Britain who has produced the most distinguished children’s book illustrations for that year.
Page updated: 28 Feb 2007