Pair of Botanical Engravings from The Botanic Garden by B. Maund, London c.1836

About this sheet

Pair of Botanical Engravings from The Botanic Garden by B. Maund, London c.1836
A delicate and finely preserved pair of hand-colored botanical engravings from Benjamin Maund’s *The Botanic Garden*, Volume VII, published in London around 1836. This celebrated Victorian botanical series is admired for its precision and the harmonious arrangement of four plant specimens per plate, each meticulously engraved and colored by hand.

The first sheet depicts *Potentilla tormentillo-formosa* (five-finger), *Nemophila phacelioides* (baby blue eyes), *Campanula garganica* (Adriatic bellflower), and *Eriophyllum caespitosum* (woolly sunflower). Each specimen is elegantly composed with botanical accuracy and soft naturalistic hues. The second plate features *Calliopsis Drummondii* (Drummond’s tickseed), *Pentstemon gracilis* (graceful beardtongue), *Gentiana saponaria* (soapwort gentian), and *Pyrola rotundifolia* (round-leaved wintergreen), arranged in Maund’s distinctive balanced format.

Benjamin Maund (1790–1864), a Fellow of the Linnean Society, combined scientific rigor with artistic refinement. His publication *The Botanic Garden; consisting of Highly Finished Representations of Hardy Ornamental Flowering Plants Cultivated in Great Britain* became a cornerstone of early 19th-century horticultural illustration. The plates were drawn by E.D. Smith and engraved by S. Watts, showcasing the height of English botanical artistry with exquisite clarity, faithful color, and an emphasis on structure and form.

These particular plates highlight the rich variety of wild and cultivated flowering species introduced or appreciated in Britain during the early Victorian period. Maund’s intention was not merely decorative but educational, making these works both beautiful and historically significant.

Condition report:
Excellent impressions with vibrant original hand-coloring. Light age toning and minor foxing near upper margin, consistent with 19th-century paper. Strong plate impressions and clean image areas.

Framing tips:
Best presented as a pair in matching cream or soft-green mats with narrow gilt or oak frames. Their gentle palette and classical composition suit both botanical-themed interiors and elegant modern spaces.

Technique: Hand-colored copperplate engraving
Maker: Engraved by S. Watts after E.D. Smith; published by Benjamin Maund, London, c.1836