Sarah Noble Ives (American Artist and Illustrator, 1864-1944). "Dingty Diddledy, my mammy's maid, She stole oranges, I am afra... (Total: 2 )

Description

Sarah Noble Ives (American Artist and Illustrator, 1864-1944). "Dingty Diddledy, my mammy's maid, She stole oranges, I am afraid." Ink, watercolor and gouache on paper, signed vertically in ink: "Noble Ives." [Place of creation not identified but New York for the McLoughlin Brothers, not dated, circa 1910]. Illustration for "Mother Goose Gems [1911]. Illustrated in color by S. Noble Ives." [Modern copy of the book in stiff illustrated wrappers included]. Unframed, but mounted early on patterned paper board. (Sheet: 14 x 11.125 inches; 355 x 282 mm; Mount: 16 x 13.25 inches; 410 x 335 mm). Captioned with note and title at top of sheet; production marks at bottom of sheet. A few stray marks and blemishes, including a thumbprint, paper a bit browned around edges, mount is bumped and worn with chips to the corners, and a large piece wanting from the top right edge, else very good.

More Information: Sarah Noble Ives was from Michigan, near Detroit, and after art studies in High School, she attended a Training School for Elocution and Literature run by Mrs. Edna Chaffee Noble, who was a suffragette and significant role model to Ms. Ives. She continued her education in New York at the School for Artists and Artisans and then also in Paris at the Académie Julian and Académie Delécluse. After Paris, Ms. Ives returned to New York City to find work as a freelance author and illustrator, then moved back to Port Huron, Michigan in 1921, and in 1925 retired to Altadena, California with her (also unmarried) sisters. She remained in Altadena for the rest of her life, in 1938 penning a history of her adopted town, Altadena, Compiled for the Altadena Historical and Beautification Society, published in Pasadena. Her home is featured on historical tours of Altadena.

A versatile artist, illustrator, historian and author, Ms. Ives illustrated and wrote several children's books, among them: Dog Heroes of Many Lands and Songs of the Shining Way published in 1899 and dedicated to her teacher and mentor Mrs. Noble (from whom she took her professional pen-name). Her work appeared in numerous publications, including the New York Herald Tribune, McClure's, and The Boston Globe; and worked as a freelance illustrator for book publishers. She signed most commercial work with "Noble Ives" or "N-I" to disguise her gender and increase opportunities to gain freelance work. Also a gifted fine artist, she exhibited her landscapes and other oils in many art shows. As an accomplished illustrator she notably created color pictures for books published by the McLoughlin Brothers, including a series for an edition of Mother Goose's Nursery Rhymes.