Epipactis Enchantment: A Trio of Botanical Illustrations from 1904
€ 230
One of a kind: this is the sheet in the photographs. Ships from Langweer, the Netherlands.
Date
1904
Sheet size
24 × 15 cm (9.4 × 5.9 in)
Condition
Good
Reference
BG-13691-13, BG-13691-14, BG-13691-15
Condition
Good. One edge rough, but leaving enough space for matting or framing. Study the images carefully.
About this sheet
The collage consists of three antique botanical prints from Walter Müller's publication, which meticulously document various species of the genus Epipactis. These illustrations are characteristic of early 20th-century scientific botanical illustration, with an emphasis on both accuracy and aesthetics.
In the first print, we see Epipactis rubiginosa, depicted with a richly colored, deep red-brown flower set against a green stem with broad leaves. The root system is exposed, showing a thick network of roots that are typical of terrestrial orchids.
The second print illustrates Epipactis latifolia, which features flowers with a lighter, more delicate pink hue. The stem, leaves, and roots are portrayed in great detail, alongside dissected views of the flower's internal structures, such as the pollen sacs and the ovary, essential for scientific identification.
The third print showcases Epipactis palustris, displaying slender leaves and flowers that have a gradient of green and pink, with the spiral arrangement of the blooms along the stem. Similar to the other prints, a detailed view of the plant's root system is provided, along with various stages of the flower's development.
Each print is accompanied by annotations identifying the species, indicative of the educational purpose of the book. These images are not only scientifically valuable for their detailed depiction of the botanical subjects but also are works of art, capturing the intricate beauty of these orchids with precision and clarity.