#childrensliteratureillustration

[ofgraveconcern]

5th August 1761, death of London bookseller Mary Cooper, Cooper was one of the first publishers of children’s books in English between 1743 and 1761. Her book ‘Tommy Thumb's Pretty Song Book’, published in 1744; features the first printing of the English nursery rhyme "Who Killed Cock Robin". One theory of the nursery rhyme’s origin is associated with the fall of the government of the first British Prime Minister Robert Walpole. Critics cited his control of government as a "Robinocracy," Robin is a diminutive form of Robert. Although first appearing in print in 1744, the song potentially is much older; potentially having pagan roots, alluding to the death of the Norse god Balder, or the Celtic Sun god Lugh.There is also a dead robin shown killed by an arrow in a 15th century stained glass window at Buckland Rectory in England, which could refer to the death of King William II, who was killed by an arrow while hunting in 1100. The rhyme also shows similarities to ‘Phyllyp Sparowe’, written in 1508 by the English poet John Skelton (c. 1463 – 21 June 1529). All four designs can be purchased here: www.ofgraveconcern.com/mythology You are invited to follow @ofgrave.concern for more tales and art inspired by dark history. #whokilledcockrobin #childrensnurseryrhymes #18thcentury #18thcenturyhistory #childrensliterature #nurseryrhymes #childrensliteratureillustration #gothicstyle #robertwalpole #tommythumb #18thcenturylondon #historicalillustration #gothicillustration #birdillustration #childrensbookstore #strangehistory #maudlin #gothicpoem #robinbird #mothergoose #vintagebooks #vintagebook #vintagechildrensbooks #cockrobin #vintagestyle #steampunkillustration #darkillustration #darkillustrations #printmakingart #printedart https://www.instagram.com/p/CSPVKI_HrF-/?utm_medium=tumblr