{"product_id":"original-painting-a-round-dozen-cover","title":"Original Painting A Round Dozen Cover","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis Tasha Tudor original watercolor was published as the front cover of Louisa May Alcott’s \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eA Round Dozen\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, a collection of 12 short stories that were sourced from original publications between 1884-89. Editor \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAnne Thaxter Eaton (1881-1971), a children’s librarian and children’s book reviewer for the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, selected her favorite stories for publication with Tasha Tudor’s illustrations in \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eA Round Dozen\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e in 1963. Tasha illustrated Alcott’s better-known \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eLittle Women\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e six years later, in 1969.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe painting is an unusually large size for a Tasha Tudor work, allowing satisfying detail in each of the twelve vignettes. The small scenes are arranged like the numbers on a clock face, each measuring about 2″ × 3″. Each miniature scene is a world of its own, corresponding to the twelve stories selected for inclusion in the book. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEaton selected stories from the previously published books \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cem\u003eFrom Lulu’s Library\u003c\/em\u003e, Vol I and III\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eSpinning Wheel Stories\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eAunt Jo’s Scrap Bag\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. She remarks in the introduction, “[The] qualities, - loyalty, determination, unselfishness - are all reflected in greater or less degree in these twelve stories, which show as well the delightful appreciation of character and personality that makes the people in \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eLittle Women\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e so timelessly alive.” \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eStories are:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eA Hole in the Wall \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eBaa! Baa!\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Silver Party\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Brownie and the Princess\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eTabby’s Tablecloth\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eLunch\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eHow They Camped Out\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Hare and the Tortoise\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eJersey, or The Girls’ Ghost\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Cooking Class\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eMusic and Macaroni\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Banner of Beaumanior\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eA Hole in the Wall\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cem\u003e \u003c\/em\u003ecorresponds to the scene in the 1 o’clock position, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eBaa! Baa!\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e corresponds to the 2 o’clock position, and so on. In some cases, the vignettes clearly correspond with illustrations from the book interior; in others, they differ. It’s a fun comparison for all art lovers who own a copy of this out-of-print title. It should be noted that this is the only color illustration done for the book. All interior illustrations were black and white. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAs is common with Tasha’s work, the finely wrought detail of the original surpasses its reproduction. The details are a visual feast, especially once the floral border catches your attention. The ‘clock face’ is topped by brass pieces typical of pocket watches, completing the nod to a pocket-watch motif, a clever way of grouping illustrations of times gone by.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAs many of you know, Tasha routinely sketched her illustrations on tracing paper before delicately transferring the lines to the more expensive watercolor paper. The “preliminary” for the painting is affixed to the back of the frame, keeping the pair together - an unusual opportunity to offer both the preliminary and the finished painting together - thanks to the foresight of the original collector.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIf you enjoy studying Tasha’s work, you may be interested in the slight differences between the sketch and the finished painting. Such attention allows a look into Tasha’s refined and artistic sense of balance as she made subtle improvements. Though erased, traces of the book title placement are still visible.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis painting was originally purchased on April 4, 1977, from Edward (Ned) Hills, proprietor of the Dutch Inn Gift Shop in Mill Hall, Pennsylvania. He was hailed as one of the earliest Tasha Tudor fans (1938) and opened a dedicated “Tasha Tudor Room” in his shop in the early 1960s. The shop issued catalogs and held Tasha Tudor events during which she signed many books for fans. This piece has been in the same family since its purchase.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe painting is in excellent condition. The only drawbacks of note are not markings, fading, or foxing, but folds and creases from long ago.  An uneven ‘bubbling’ of the watercolor paper under the 12 o’clock position may be related to the old folds. Thankfully, only one crease mark interferes with a vignette, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Silver Party\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.  \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe preliminary also displays folds, which may have been done by Tasha to provide guidelines to position the vignettes in a circle. The paper has tanned with age, but is otherwise in acceptable condition. It is protected in a clear Mylar wrap, and affixed to the back of the framed painting.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAll told, if you are a collector who loves the interplay of literature and illustration art, this work would be a stunning addition to your collection. Or perhaps you’d like to decorate a children’s bedroom or home library with high-quality artwork to inspire their imaginations. Perhaps growing up with original artwork as fine as Tasha’s may inspire your young ones to become artists themselves.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eExterior frame dimensions: 19.5” x 23.5”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePreliminary mat interior: 13.5” x 15”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePreliminary Mat exterior: 17.5” x 19”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Tasha Tudor and Family","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48235633246393,"sku":null,"price":3900.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0658\/1931\/2313\/files\/round-dozen-cover-close.jpg?v=1784467554","url":"https:\/\/tashatudorandfamily.com\/products\/original-painting-a-round-dozen-cover","provider":"Tasha Tudor and Family","version":"1.0","type":"link"}