Rye and District National Trust Association has helped in the acquisition of a rare watercolour, which is now on display at Bateman’s in Burwash.
Baloo in the Forest depicts one of Rudyard Kipling’s most beloved Jungle Book characters: the wise and gentle brown bear who mentors Mowgli in Kipling’s classic tale. It can now be seen for the first time at the author’s family home. Bateman’s is an absolute treasure trove for anyone interested in the author and his popular stories, or for visiting a property that encapsulates the very essence of his family life and work there.
Additional funding was also generated by Rye and District National Trust Association for lighting the acquisition.
The original watercolour was painted in 1903 by Edward Julius Detmold (1883–1957), one of the celebrated Detmold twins. The illustration joins The Return of the Buffalo Herd, another original Detmold painting acquired in 2024 by The National Trust at Batemans, creating a unique opportunity for visitors to see two surviving works from the original set of 16 Jungle Book illustrations.
This acquisition is a significant addition to the National Trust’s collection and a rare glimpse into the artistry that helped bring The Jungle Book to life.
The Detmold twins were just 18 years old when they were commissioned by Macmillan publishers to illustrate The Jungle Book, having showcased their art publicly since their early teens. To capture the true essence of jungle animals, they visited London Zoo to observe and sketch animals from life. These detailed studies later served as the foundation for the watercolour paintings we see today.
The display is part of a wider programme of activities designed to bring Baloo to life for all ages At 2.00pm on 18 June, Hannah Miles, collections and house manager at Bateman’s, will be at Brede Village Hall giving a talk to the members of The Rye and District National Trust Association, with her focus on the works and dramatic lives of Edward and Charles -the Detmold twins. As they were considered upcoming artists in the early 1900s, Sir Edward Burne-Jones recommended the brothers to his nephew Rudyard Kipling as the illustrators for The Jungle Book for which they then created the 16 watercolours as already mentioned. Sadly, only five of the 16 are known to have survived, and so this second acquisition by the Trust is even more important. The Detmold brothers remain to this day the most celebrated artists to illustrate the book.
For any non-members wishing to attend this interesting talk on 18 June the cost is just £7 per person (£5 for members).
For non-members interested in joining or purely curious about the long-standing, local association – now in its 46th year – firstly you do NOT need to be a member of the National Trust to join. The Rye and District National Trust Association offers regular talks, walks, quizzes, excursions, a Christmas Party, the occasional afternoon tea, an annual
luncheon, and three very informative newsletters per year. Funds raised through all of these activities then help generate funds for local NT projects the Association deems
appropriate.
For membership and enquiries please email: membershipryenationaltrust@gmail.com
Image Credits: Peter Spencer .