Sir John Hill

The Family Herbal: Water Arrowhead (Sagittaria sagittifolia)

Sir John Hill's original hand-colored etching, "Water Arrowhead (Sagittaria sagittifolia)" dates from his 1812 opus, "The Family Herbal". The first edition of the book was actually published in 1754 under the title of "The Useful Family Herbal". The initial edition contained only eight plates, while the 1812 edition consisted of fifty-four hand-colored plates. The majority of the plates depict multiple species of plants per plate, however, (plate 51) entitled, "Water Arrowhead" is one of the few images concentrating upon one specific plant. One should also note that in this impression the colorist did not complete the composition as the green leaves are uncolored, and it is also the only plate in the set that actually depicts an insect, in this case, it is an 18th century representation of a butterfly, with deep yellow wings, solid black borders, and a black spot in the forewing cells. It is possibly a Colias Eurytheme.

The arrowhead (Sagittaria sagittifolia) is found in the wetlands of most of Europe. John Hill described it as a very pretty plant, common in his English ditches, with leaves like the bearded heads of arrows, and with pretty white flowers. Although it is over two and a half feet high, a large part of it is not visible as most of its stalk is buried in water with the exception of the spike of flowers. The beautiful green, and broad, leaves are bearded at the base, and sharp at the point, they stand upon a pedicle, which is round, thick, and very long. The bright white flowers are fairly large; and are supported by a round and thick stalk. Hill notes that the common people in many places have a custom of applying these leaves to bruises or inflammations as they cool and comfort, but he believes this is not always right. This original engraving and etching is a fine, example of the botanical and herbal art by the British illustrator, author and botanist, Sir John Hill created for his 1812 folio, "The Family Herbal".

Original Hand-Coloured Engraving & Etching by the British illustrator, author and botanist, Sir John Hill.

The Family Herbal: Water Arrowhead (Sagittaria sagittifolia)

View other original works of art by the British artist, Sir John Hill.

Sir John Hill (Peterborough, c. 1716 - London, 1775)
#	Image	Title & Artist	Medium	Date	Source	-
01-		The Family Herbal: Henbane, Good King Henry, & Honewort (Hyoscyamus, onus Henricus, & Selinum sii foliis) by Sir John Hill	Original Hand-Coloured Engraving & Etching	1812	The Family Herbal (Plate27)	Sold
02.-		The Family Herbal: Rag Wort, Rest Arrow, & Sun Dew or Rosa Sours (Anonis spinosa, Jacobeea & Ros solis) by Sir John Hill	Original Hand-Coloured Engraving & Etching	1812	The Family Herbal (Plate 40)	Sold
03.-		The Family Herbal: Water Arrowhead or Sagitta aquatica (Sagittaria sagittifolia) by Sir John Hill	Original Hand-Coloured Engraving & Etching	1812	The Family Herbal (Plate 51)	Available

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Title:	The Family Herbal: Water Arrowhead (Sagittaria sagittifolia)
Artist:	Hill, Sir John (Peterborough, c. 1716 - London, 1775)
Date:	1812
Medium:	Original Hand-Coloured Engraving & Etching
Source:	The Family Herbal
Note:	Sir John Hill: A literary, artistic and scientific Jack-of-all-trades, John Hill was both the author and illustrator of most of his botanical works. When he was awarded the Swedish Order of Vasa for one of his publications, he styled himself, Sir John Hill, although he never had a British title. To say the least, Hill’s talents were widespread, as he also penned books on acting, matrimonial conduct, theology, naval history, astronomy, entomology, architecture and cookery, as well as writing several novels and composing an opera. At one time, he complained to a companion that he was running a risk of fatigue due to the fact that he was writing seven books at the same time.
	Some of Hill’s books and articles were often personal and somewhat scurrilous in nature. He thus engendered considerable ill will and among his many detractors were such major figures as Henry Fielding, Christopher Smart and David Garrick. John Hill’s finest work is clearly in the field of botanical art and classification.
	Besides Sir John Hill's numerous literary novels, and contributions to contemporary periodicals, he also authored such books as "The Useful Family Herbal. or, an Account of all those English Plants, which are remarkable for their Virtues: And of the Drugs, which are produced by Vegetables of other Countries. With their Descriptions, and their Uses, as proved by Experience." Illustrated with Figures of the most useful English Plants, first published anonymously in (1754). The second edition was printed for W. Johnston, in St Paul's-Church-Yard, and W. Owen, in Fleet-Street near Temple-Bar (1755) contained eight etchings (not hand-coloured), each plate contained six different species. "The Useful Family Herbal" was also reprinted in 1812 under the title, "The Family Herbal, or an Account of all those English Plants, which are Remarkable for their Virtues, and of the Drugs, which are Produced by Vegetables of other Countries; with their Descriptions and Their Uses, as proved by Experience", Embellished with fifty-four coloured plates, Bungay: printed and published by C. Brightly, and also published by T. Kinnersley (1812). This original hand-Coloured etching and engraving entitled, "Water Arrowhead (Sagittaria sagittifolia)" is plate 51 form the 1812 edition of "The Family Herbal". Other important contribution in the field of botany include, "The British Herbal: An History of Plants and Trees, Natives of Britain, Cultivated for Use, or Raised for Beauty published in fifty two parts by John Hill, M.D. printed for T. Osborne and J. Shipton, in Gray's Inn; J. Hodges, Near London Bridge; J. Newbery, in St. Paul's Church-Yard; B. Collins; And S. Croder and H. Woodcate, in Pater-noster-Row. (1756-1757) . This folio contained a frontispiece, two vignettes and seventy two coloured plates with as few as twelve species and as many as thirty, possibly more species per plate. In 1774, John Hill received the 'Royal Order of Vasa" from the King of Sweden for his opus, "Vegetable System and Exotic Botany" (1759 -1775), published in twenty six folio volumes, and containing around 1600 copper plate engravings. And, before his death in 1775, he authored, "Virtues of British Herbs", with the History, Description, and Figures, of the Several Kinds; An Account of the Diseases they will cure; The Method of giving them; and Management of the Patients in each disease., London, Printed for R. Baldwin, in Pater-noster-Row;; J. Ridley, in St. James's Street; J. Nourse, T. Becket, P. Elmsly, J. Campbell, in the Strand; and T. Davies, in Ruffel-Street, Covent-Gardens, This volume contained nine engravings with multiple plant species in each plate (1770).
	"The Family Herbal", Plate (51) Water Arrowhead (Sagittaria sagittifolia) The arrowhead (Sagittaria sagittifolia) is found in the wetlands of most of Europe. Of the arrowhead John Hill wrote, "A very pretty plant, common in our ditches, with leaves like the bearded heads of arrows, and with pretty white flowers. It is two feet and a half high, but generally the greatest part of the stalk is buried in water, very little appearing above, except the spike of flowers. The leaves stand each upon a pedicle, which is round, thick, and very long; they are of a beautiful green, and are broad, and bearded at the base, and sharp at the point: the flowers are white, tolerably large, and very bright; and the stalk, on which they are supported, is also round and thick. The common people in many places have a custom of applying these leaves bruised to inflammations; they cool and give ease, but it is not always right." John Hill, The Family Herbal, 1812, p. 357. One should also note that in this impression the colorist did not complete the composition as the green leaves are uncolored, and it is also the only plate in the set that actually depicts an insect, in this case, it is an 18th century representation of a butterfly, with deep yellow wings, solid black borders, and a black spot in the forewing cells. It is possibly a Colias Eurytheme.
Size:	6 5/8 X 4 5/8 (Sizes in inches are approximate, height preceding width of plate-mark or image.)
	Framed and Matted with 100% Archival Materials

Buy Now	Price: $285.00 US
Condition:	Printed upon early nineteenth century wove paper and with full margins as published in 1812. This is a finely printed impression with beautiful, period coloration and it is in excellent condition throughout. "Water Arrowhead" represents a superb, original example of the botanical work of ‘Sir’ John Hill.
Subject:	Sir John Hill, original hand-colored etching, plate (51), "The Family Herbal: Water Arrowhead 'Sagitta aquatica' (Sagittaria sagittifolia)", "The Useful Family Herbal", "The British Herbal" flowers, botanical art, British illustrator, author and botanist. butterfly, Colias Eurytheme.
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