George Brookshaw Print of Four Varieties of Plums 1806

George Brookshaw Print of Four Varieties of Plums, Plate XVII, from Natural History Art, Botanical, Fruit, Brookshaw, Pomona Britannica.

1806.

Paper.

The applied Publication Legion below and center-reads Plate XVII, Painted & Published as the Act Directs by the Author G. Brookshaw 1806.

This aquatint engraving, with some stipple, was printed in color and finished by hand and depicts four types of plum- Red Magnum Bonum, Blue Perdrigon Plum, Le Royal Plum, White Magnum Bonum.

No other artist captured the romantic symbolism of fruit as did George Brookshaw. He combined stipple, aquatint and linear engraving with considerable hand coloring as his medium. The resulting large, sumptuous engravings remove the subjects from the earthly context of the soil and edify them in their most ripened state. In Prideaux's Aquatint Engravings the Pomona Britannica is Described as "one of the finest colour plate folios in existence.".

Mounted with an acid-free matte and Museum Glass.

Donald A. Heald writes, George Brookshaw's 'Pomona Britannica' is the finest work on fruits and flowers ever produced. Its breathtaking images display a level of technical virtuosity and beauty that distinguish this magnificent work as a true work of art.

As a retired cabinetmaker, Brookshaw produced his seminal botanical stufy late in his career, at first publishing it in parts and then as a complete edition in 1812. The fact that this outstanding work took ten years to complete is evident in the quality of its images and the care with which Brookshaw executed each individual picture.

'Pomona Britannica' was produced as a visual record of the best available varities of druit in an attempt to encourage gardeners to experiment with growing fruit, and illustrates examples found in the Royal gardens at Hampton Court, Kensington Gardens, and the private gardens of the Prince of Wales at Blackheath.

'Pomona Britannica' differs from other botanical works in its dark aquatinted backgrounds and its stylized compositions. By using aquatint to create a contrasting background, Brookshaw m dramatic effect. His use of stylized composition distinguishes his pictures from the dry scientific illustrations found in other botanical studies and creates an exceptionally beautiful visual experience. 'Pomona Britannica' is not only a didactic study, it is a masterpiece of illustration in which every picture is a testament to the artist's talent and ingenuity.

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This object is eligible for a Certificate of BADA Provenance

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