Rosa C. Petherick

Rosa Clementina Petherick (September 1871 – 20 December 1931) was a British book illustrator.

Early life and family

Born in Addiscombe, Croydon, she was the eldest of the five surviving daughters of the artist Horace William Petherick (1839–1919) and his wife Clementina Augusta Bewley Petherick, née Bonny (1837-1909). Rosa's elder brother Horace Claude (1867-1869) and elder sister Adeline Maude (1869-1872) both died in early childhood.

The children who survived to adulthood were: Rosa Clementina (1872-1931), Ada Flora (1874-1924), Leila Helena (1876-1951), Eveline May (1880-1936), Dora Valentine (1881-1946).

A musical family

alt=Drawing of a large number of children at all sorts of play outside what is presumably a school. The play hour by Rosa C. Petherick from First Steps. From the Osborne Collection. Courtesy of the Toronto Public LibraryHer four sisters were talented musicians and played as the Petherick Quartet from about 1905 onwards. The Violinist report that they played at the Mozart Society Concert on 15 January 1910. Although Rosa did not play in her sister's quartet she was also a musician. She played briefly in the Streatham Symphony Orchestra in 1920–21. Rosa got honorable mentions for competitions in The Studio: in June 1896 for designing a private note-paper heading. in August 1896 for a black and white drawing of Summer. in November 1900 for an illustration for a Child's Story.

She also won honourable mentions for competitions in The International Studio in July 1897 for the following: Design for the title page of a Christmas Card Illustration in pen and ink work for The Canterbury Tales Study of a Female Head

Works

Horace William Petherick drawn by Rosa in 1900In 1900, She drew the portrait of her father that he used as the frontispiece for his books on Antonio Stradivari and on Repairing and Restoring Violins.

She contributed illustrations to numerous children's story books, annuals and periodicals, particularly those produced by Blackie and Son Limited. According to her obituary in The Times, her etchings could be found in the National Portrait Gallery. Peppin states that although here work was pleasing in appearance it was somewhat bland and was characterised by uniformly heavy outlines.

The British Library Catalogue has 55 of her works listed. The Museum of Croydon has 48 of her works in the Croydon Art Collection. Links for the six eBooks can be found in the external links below.

Rosa died in Brighton on 20 December 1931. Her second youngest sister, Eveline May, acted as her executor with a final estate of £1,530 18s 4d.