Small group of original artworks, including 15 pencil drawings of women practising chemistry.

£1,250 · Offered by Shapero Rare Books

original drawings of women chemistry students A wonderful group of artworks by the pioneering Oxford chemist Muriel Tomlinson (1909-1991), a number documenting her education during the 1920s. It includes fifteen pencil drawings of women at work in the chemistry laboratory, teaching, or sitting finals, and three drawings which depict the laboratories in detail. Together with other artwork by Tomlinson from the 1920s and 30s, including drawings, watercolours, and linocuts. Tomlinson showed early promise in science. In 1921 she was awarded a free place at King's High in Warwick, where she was Head Girl in 1928, and she later explained that chemistry attracted her 'because of the delightful blue colour the word conjured up for me. To me, all words have colour' (Beidas, Landor Association biography). She was then awarded two scholarships to attend St. Hilda's College, Oxford, graduating with first class honours in chemistry. 'Her undergraduate tutor sensed her promise early on, and encouraged her to take her Part One examinations at the end of the second year. Later, Muriel realised that she alone, out of all the other (male) students of the subject, had been told to do this, the rest having to wait until the third year, and although this daunted her a little, she still obtained a first class pass' (Beidas). These charming drawings were produced during the 1920s and it is unclear whether they represent the laboratories at King's, St. Hilda's, or both. Young women are shown at work

• Binding: Hardcover

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