Wooden paint box with paints, paint pots, brushes, crayons with lift out tray. 'M. E. Lucy, Nov. 24th 1868' is inscribed on the base of the box.

What child would not have been enticed by this paint box to try their hand at painting or even colouring the many commercially produced painting books, such as The sunshine book for boys & girls, published in the 1940s, or Sunlight painting book of animals?

Reserved perhaps for quiet or rainy days, painting was an approved indoor activity for children. Books or parents might provide tuition in the finer points of watercolour work. There would be much satisfaction in producing a recognisable painting of an animal or a local scene. For the less talented child there were commercially available colouring or painting books to complete by applying the colours.

Opie, Iona. The treasures of childhood: books, toys and games from the Opie collection, London: Pavilion, 1989

Peters, Charles (ed.) The girl's own indoor book: containing practical help to girls on all matters relating to their material comfort and moral well-being, London: Religious Tract Society, 1891-1892 [Parts 4-5 Accomplishments: Art. On painting in water colours]

The Young ladies' treasure book: a complete cyclopaedia of practical instruction and direction for all indoor and outdoor occupations and amusements suitable to young ladies, London: Ward, Lock, [1884]

State Library of South Australia: Children's Literature Research Collection. The Lucy Collection

Victoria and Albert Museum: Museum of Childhood. Collections