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A 19th Century Hand-colored Engraving of a Flowering Houseleek Plant by Curtis

Creator: William Curtis
Offered by: Timeless Intaglio – Rare Prints, Maps & Books

Description
This early 19th century hand-colored double fold-out botanical engraving is entitled "Sempervivum Smithii" (Hispid-Stemmed Tree Houseleek), plate 1980, published in London in 1818 in William Curtis’s 'The Botanical Magazine, or Flower-Garden Displayed'. This beautiful colorful and detailed botanical engraving has two horizontal folds, as issued. It is in excellent condition. The original English descriptive pages from the publication are included.

William Curtis (1746-1799) was an English botanist and entomologist. His first career was as an apothecary, but subsequently focussed on natural history. He became an author in his mid twenties, publishing a treatise on collecting and preserving insects. He worked as at the Chelsea Physic Garden from 1771 to 1777, but then established his own London Botanic Garden in 1779. He began publishing 'The Botanical Magazine; or Flower-Garden Displayed' an illustrated botanical publication, in 1787. It has become the longest published botanical magazine in history, still published currently. William Curtis was precise in his approach to the research and illustration of plants for the journal. Each illustration is done with attention to detail and color, using copperplate engraving and etching techniques and hand-coloring with watercolor paints. Each print is accompanied by an extensive textual description of the plant, including its scientific features.

More Information

Documentation:	Signed
Period:	19th Century
Condition:	Good.
Creation Date:	1818
Styles / Movements:	Traditional
Incollect Reference #:	585088

Dimensions

W.	9 in;	H.	11.5 in;
W.	22.86 cm;	H.	29.21 cm;

Message from Seller:

Timeless Intaglio is an online gallery of rare and collectable antiquarian prints, maps and books. Although we specialize in all forms of vintage printed works on paper, the majority were created with the intaglio method of transferring ink from a plate, usually copper, to paper with a technique utilizing pressure generated by a press. Email us directly: rbreiman@timelessintaglio.com