| Title: |
Hellaboraster (Hellebore, or, Christmas Rose) |
| Engraver: |
Blackwell, Elizabeth (London, 1700-1759) |
| Date: |
C. 1755 |
| Medium: |
Original Hand-Coloured Engraving |
| Publisher: |
Jacob Trew, Nuremberg |
| Note: |
Elizabeth Blackwell:An important eighteenth
century botanical artist, Elizabeth Blackwell is reported to have initially
taken her profession in order to obtain funds to free her husband (Dr. Alexander Blackwell)
from debtors' prison. Learning that a major work upon plants and herbs with medicinal
qualities was needed, she made frequent excursions to the nearby Chelsea Physic Garden to examine
and draw the specimens. Thus Elizabeth Blackwell compiled 'A Curious Herbal',
with the financial support of Sir Hans Sloane and the encouragement of
Philip Miller and others. She was also among the first botanical artists
to personally etch and engrave her own designs rather than hiring a professional
engraver. In total, the enterprise took Blackwell six full years to complete
and in the end she was able to release her husband from prison. Unfortunately,
he journeyed to Sweden several years later and became involved in a political
plot which led to his execution. |
| |
The first edition of Elizabeth Blackwell's art was published in London in 1739
under the above mentioned title of 'A Curious Herbal'. Between 1750 and 1760,
however, Jacob Trew in Nuremberg published a much expanded second edition
under the title of, 'Herbarium Blackwellianum Emmendatum et Auctum'. "Hellaboraster"
hails from this second edition. Each engraving was hand-colored by botanical artists before
publication. Besides the obvious artistry of these original engravings, examples from the Herbarium have
long been cited as perhaps the most important delineations of herbs and
other medicinal plants created during the eighteenth century. This fine example depicts
the root and rhizome of the Hellebore (Hellebore, or, Christmas Rose). It possess drastic purgative,
emmenague and anthelmintic properties. It is also extremely narcotic.
In the past it was employed to combat nervous disorders and hysteria. |
| |
Dr. Christopher Jacob Trew: A wealthy Nuremberg physician, Dr. Christopher
Jacob Trew combined his love of botany and books to publish some of the
finest botanical sets of the eighteenth century. 'Herbarium Blackwellianum'
was published between 1750 and 1760 and dealt with herbs and medicinal
plants. This original Blackwell engraving depicting the "Hellaboraster
(Hellebore, or, Christmas Rose)" originates from the 'Herbarium
Blackwellianum Emmendatum et Auctum'. Another valuable Jacob Trew undertaking was the
'Plantae Selctae' (1750-1773) which dealt with specimens known mostly
for their rarity and novelty. Perhaps his most famous publication, however,
was the 'Hortus Nitidissimus' (1750-1786), which portrayed ornamental flowers
and is today considered as one of the finest florilegiums of the eighteenth century.
Jacob Trew died in 1769. Thus thelast two named series were continued by other editors after his demise. |
| Source: |
'Herbarium Blackwellianum Emmendatum et Auctum' |
| Size: |
12 X 8 (Sizes in inches are approximate,
height preceding width of plate-mark or image.) |
| |
Matted with 100% Archival Materials |
| Condition: |
Printed upon watermarked, hand-made eighteenth century paper and with
full margins as published in Nuremberg around 1755. Slight notations in
the lower margin in eighteenth century pen exist, else in fine condition
throughout with unfaded, original hand-coloring. "Hellaboraster" (Hellebore,
or, Christmas Rose) represents a prime, original example of the art of
Elizabeth Blackwell, one of England's greatest botanical artists. |
| Price: |
Sold - The price is no longer available. |
| Important Information: |
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