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James Sowerby & William Curtis

James Sowerby and William Curtis - Scabiosa Succisa Devil's Bit or Blue Buttons Flora Londinensis

Scabiosa Succisa (Devil's Bit or Blue Buttons) From the Flora Londinensis

This original James Sowerby engraving illustrates the "Scabiosa Succisa" (commonly called Devil's Bit or Blue Buttons). This plant grows to a height of about two and a half inches and contains clusters of dark blue or purple flowers. It was once believed that if worn around the neck this flower would drive away evil sprits, bring good fortune and attract women. One can't ask for much more. This impression is an original 18th century hand-coloured engraving and etching created by one of the finest British botanical artists in England, James Sowerby. "Scabiosa Succisaquot; (Devil's Bit or Blue Buttons) was published by William Curtis for the "Flora Londinensis" around 1788.

Title:	Scabiosa Succisa (Devil's Bit or Blue Buttons) From the Flora Londinensis
Artist:	Sowerby, James (London, 1757 - 1822)
Date:	c. 1788
Medium:	Original Hand-Coloured Engraving and Etching
Publisher:	William Curtis, London
Note:	James Sowerby was the first of a long line of natural-history draughtsmen. He was a student of the Royal Academy Schools and was first apprenticed to the marine painter, Richard Wright. He did not produce his first botanical art until he was about thirty years old. He was discovered and first employed by L'Heritier, where he produced his first plate for L'Heritier's "Stripes Novae" in 1784.
	Sowerby went on to work for William Curtis and contributed about seventy plates to the initial volumes of the Botanical Magazine and about fifty to the fifth part of "Flora Londinensis" (1777-1798). He not only designed but engraved many of these plates. This original engraving entitled, "Scabiosa Succisa" (Devil's Bit or Blue Buttons) is a fine example of Sowerby's work from the last named publication.
	From 1790 onwards he was chiefly occupied in illustrating the works of Sir J. E. Smith and is usually associated with the long series of works that he illustrated for Sir J. E. Smith, in particular the thirty-six-volume "English Botany", for which Smith wrote the text. By the mid 1790's James Sowerby had established himself as perhaps the finest botanical artist in England.
	William Curtis: Trained as both a botanist and as an apothecary, William Curtis (1746 - 1799) was responsible for England's three finest series of late eighteenth century botanical art "Flora Londinensis" (1777 - 1798) , Assistant Plates to the "Materia Medica" (1786) and the still surviving publication, "Botanical Magazine" (founded by him in 1787), He also established famous botanical gardens at Lambeth and Brompton.
Source:	Flora Londinensis: The monumental "Flora Londinensis" was published in six massive volumes from 1777 - 1798. It contains some of the largest and most spectacular plates in the history of English botanical art. Each of these original etchings was hand-coloured by watercolourists before publication. With their magnificent sizes and beautiful colours and tonal values, examples from "Flora Londinensis" have long been cited a crowning achievement of eighteenth century botanical art. This original James Sowerby engraving depicts the "Scabiosa Succisa" (commonly called Devil's Bit or Blue Buttons). It grows to a height of about two and a half inches and contains clusters of dark blue or purple flowers. It was once believed that if worn around the neck this flower would drive away evil sprits, bring good fortune and attract women.
Size:	16 X 9 1/4 (Sizes in inches are approximate, height preceding width of plate-mark or image.)
	Matted with 100% Archival Materials
Buy Now	Price: $295.00 US
Condition:	Printed upon fine laid eighteenth century paper and with full margins as published in London on the above date. In fine condition throughout and retaining its full, unfaded range of colouration. This original eighteenth century etching stands as a superb example entitled, "Scabiosa Succisa" (Devil's Bit or Blue Buttons) of the famous art of the "Flora Londinensis".
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Original Hand-Coloured Engraving by the British artist, James Sowerby

# 08.- Scabiosa Succisa (Devil's Bit or Blue Buttons) From the Flora Londinensis

View other Original Hand-Coloured Engravings published for the "Flora Londinensis".

James Sowerby (London, 1757 - 1822)
#	Image	Title & Artist	Date	Medium	Info	Notes	-
01.-		Erysimum Officinale (Hedge Mustard) by James Sowerby	c. 1788	Original Hand-Coloured Engraving & Etching	"Erysimum officinale" is the common Hedge Mustard. This mustard was also known as the 'Singer's Plant' in century France, because it was believed it could cure loss of voice and other throat ailments.	Published by William Curtis, London ( Flora Londinensis)
02.-		Fumaria Officinalis (Common Fumitory) by James Sowerby	c. 1788	Original Hand-Coloured Engraving & Etching	"Fumaria Officinalis" (Common Fumitory) has been alternately classified as a wild plant, annual herb and weed. It is most commonly found among arable crops.	Published by William Curtis, London ( Flora Londinensis)
03.-		Malva Rotundifolia by James Sowerby	c. 1788	Original Hand-Coloured Engraving & Etching	"Malva Rotundifolia" depicts the plant with its sprouting stem laden with leaves and beautiful white flowers, as well as a detailed close-up of the flower along the lower left side.	Published by William Curtis, London ( Flora Londinensis)
04.-		Orobanche Major (Great Broomrape) by James Sowerby	c. 1788	Original Hand-Coloured Engraving & Etching	"Orobanche Major" (The Great Broomrape) grows to a height of between 70 to 100 cm. In 16th and 17th century Europe it was used as a medicinal herb to cure ailments of the kidneys and bladder. It was also believed that the flower spikes could be used as a wash to eliminate freckles.	Published by William Curtis, London ( Flora Londinensis)
05.-		Plantago Media (Plantain) by James Sowerby	c. 1788	Original Hand-Coloured Engraving & Etching	"Plantago Media" depicts the common plantain. The seeds and initial germination are also illustrated.	Published by William Curtis, London ( Flora Londinensis)
06.-		Poterium Sanguisorba (Salad Burnet) by James Sowerby	c. 1788	Original Hand-Coloured Engraving & Etching	"Poterium Sanguisorba" (Salad Burnet) is a perennial that grows to a height of around 12 inches. Its prime benefit is found in its cucumber flavoured leaves which are most commonly used in salads, garnishes and cream cheeses.	Published by William Curtis, London ( Flora Londinensis)
07.-		Ranunculus Flammula by James Sowerby	c. 1788	Original Hand-Coloured Engraving & Etching	"Ranunculus Flammula" depicts the long stemmed plant with its blooming yellow flowers, the leaves and its roots.	Published by William Curtis, London ( Flora Londinensis)	Sold
08.-		Scabiosa Succisa (Devil's Bit or Blue Buttons) by James Sowerby	c. 1788	Original Hand-Coloured Engraving & Etching	"Scabiosa Succisa" (commonly called Devil's Bit or Blue Buttons) grows to a height of about 2 1/2 inches and contains clusters of dark blue or purple flowers. It was once believed that if worn around the neck this flower would drive away evil sprits, bring good fortune and attract women.	Published by William Curtis, London ( Flora Londinensis)
09.-		Sinapis Arvensis by James Sowerby	c. 1788	Original Hand-Coloured Engraving & Etching	"Sinapis Arvensis" depicts the long stemmed plant with clusters of beautiful yellow flowers blooming at the tips. The leaves are large and full near the base of the plant and narrow and spiny as they reach the blooms. The roots seem very small for the height of the plant.	Published by William Curtis, London ( Flora Londinensis)
10.-		Sparganium Simplex (Burr-Reed) by James Sowerby	c. 1788	Original Hand-Coloured Engraving & Etching	"Sparganium simplex" (burr-reed) is a water plant found growing at the edges of lakes and ponds. This engraving depicts the flowering plant and a close-up of its roots.	Published by William Curtis, London ( Flora Londinensis)
11.-		Tormentilla Officinalis (Tormentil or Septfoil) by James Sowerby	c. 1788	Original Hand-Coloured Engraving & Etching	"Tormentilla Officinalis" is a common plant throughout Europe and has historically been used as a dye, an agent for tanning leather and as an astringent.	Published by William Curtis, London ( Flora Londinensis)

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