Elizabeth Blackwell (nee Blachrie) was among the first women to achieve fame as a botanical illustrator. She was born in Aberdeen in about 1700, but moved to London after she married. She undertook an ambitious project to raise money to pay her husband’s debts and release him from debtors’ prison.
Her project was a book called ‘A Curious Herbal’.
She learned that physicians required a reference book which documented the medicinal qualities of plants and herbs. In order to develop the publication she examined and drew specimens of plants available in the Chelsea Physic Garden. Sir Hans Sloane provided financial support to publish ‘A Curious Herbal’.
Elizabeth Blackwell is notable for being one of the first botanical artists to personally etch and engrave her own designs. This saved the expense of hiring a professional engraver. In total, the enterprise took Blackwell six full years to complete and in the end she was able to release her husband from prison. ‘A Curious Herbal’ was published between 1737 and 1739.
The book contained the first illustrations of many odd-looking, unknown plants from the New World.
Abraham Munting, Naauwkeurige Beschryving Der Aardewassen
Fine copper engravings with later hand colouring. Florilegiums (Botanical works) of this period were produced in the main for scientific studies and research and usually illustrated just the plant itself. What makes Muntings work stand apart is the fashion in which he displayed his speciments (usually) floating above a landscape or village scene. Not satisfied with that, he had the name of the plant within a floating banner.
Abraham Munting, Naauwkeurige Beschryving Der Aardewassen. Fine copper engravings with later hand colouring. Florilegiums (Botanical works) of this period were produced in the main for scientific studies and research and usually illustrated just the plant itself. What makes Muntings work stand apart is the fashion in which he displayed his speciments (usually) floating above a landscape or village scene. Not satisfied with that, he had the name of the plant within a floating banner.
Pancovius – Herbarium Scarce 16th Century wood block botanicals, engraved by Peter Holtzmeyer in 1536. They were not published until 1665 by Thomas Pancovius 1536 to 1665
