Botany · 19th century
€ 340
One of a kind: this is the sheet in the photographs. Ships from Langweer, the Netherlands.
Condition report: Excellent, with rich original coloring and crisp impressions. Light, even toning and minimal handling marks consistent with age. Wide margins with distinct plate marks; verso blank.
Pair of Hand-Colored Botanical Engravings of Garden Flowers, London 1828
This refined pair of early 19th-century botanical engravings represents the artistic and scientific excellence of English natural history publishing during the Georgian period. Issued in London in 1828 as part of The Botanic Garden, these hand-colored engravings depict ornamental flowering plants cultivated in Britain and admired for their elegance, color, and form. Each specimen is carefully drawn and engraved, then delicately finished by hand in watercolor, capturing the beauty of both wild and garden species.
The left plate features the Virginia Bluebell (Mertensia virginica), Virginia Loosestrife (Lythrum virgatum), Strawflower (Xeranthemum lucidum), and Canada Bunchberry (Cornus canadensis). The right plate depicts the Yellow Carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus), Virginia Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica), Tuberous Sweet Pea (Lathyrus tuberosus), and Scarlet Bee Balm (Monarda didyma). Together, these eight plants illustrate a striking range of botanical forms—from the cool blue and lavender tones of the Virginia Bluebell to the vivid scarlet spikes of the Bee Balm. Each engraving reflects the careful balance between scientific accuracy and decorative refinement that characterized Benjamin Maund’s celebrated series.
Created at a time when botanical art flourished alongside England’s growing passion for horticulture, The Botanic Garden brought the beauty of cultivated plants into domestic interiors. The engravings were the product of skilled London artists and colorists who combined precision linework with luminous watercolor washes. Their appeal extended far beyond the scientific community, becoming a cherished element of early Victorian décor and taste.
Condition report: Excellent, with rich original coloring and crisp impressions. Light, even toning and minimal handling marks consistent with age. Wide margins with distinct plate marks; verso blank.
Framing tips: A graceful and colorful pair, ideal for framing in matching antique gold or dark walnut frames with off-white or light green acid-free mats. Their complementary tones and botanical diversity make them perfect for a study, living room, or conservatory wall.
Technique: Hand-colored engraving
Maker: Benjamin Maund, London, 1828
