The Infants Library, with outdoor scene

Resource added
A miniature library created by John Marshall and dated 1821, originally consisting of a wooden box and 16 miniature books, several missing from this copy. The lid illustrations vary for the 5 copies held at Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, PZ5 .I43 1821, copy 2.

Full description

The sliding lid to this miniature library depicts five children outside engaged in reading various books, while the eldest sibling leads the youngest by hand towards a book lying on the ground. In the background is a large country estate and gardened grounds. Several of Marshall's cabinets show children reading while observing nature outdoors, linking together mechanical and alphabetical literacies. With books strewn about the grounds, the library is part of the children's environment, but also part of their estate.

  • type
    Image
  • created on
  • file format
    jpg
  • file size
    390 KB
  • container title
    The Infants Library, 12 vols. (London: John Wallis, 1812).
  • credit
    Courtesy of Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana
  • rights
    public domain