Title: |
Pulmonaria Maculosa (Lungwort) |
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'. "Pulmonaria Maculosa" (Lungwort)
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. |
|
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 "Pulmonaria
Maculosa (Lungwort)" 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 the
last two named series were continued by other editors after his demise. |
Source: |
'Herbarium Blackwellianum Emmendatum et Auctum' |
Size: |
11 3/4 X 7 1/2 (Sizes in inches are approximate,
height preceding width of plate-mark or image.) |
|
Matted with 100% Archival Materials |
Buy Now |
Price: $285.00 US |
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. "Pulmonaria Maculosa" (Lungwort) represents
a prime, original example of the art of Elizabeth Blackwell, one of England's
greatest botanical artists. |
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