White Hamburgh Grape: A Framed 19th C. Color Engraving by George Brookshaw
This is a 19th century colored aquatint and stipple engraving finished by hand entitled "White Hamburgh Grape", drawn and engraved by George Brookshaw and published in London in 1812 as plate 60 in his 'Pomona Britannica; or, A Collection of the Most Esteemed Fruits'. It depicts a cluster of pale green grapes still on the vine. The vine and leaves are shown in attractive shades of green and brown. The plant lays on a brown textured background with shadows to impart 3-dimensionality. The scene is reminiscent of an engraving in an 18th century artistically stylized human anatomy atlas. There is a light brown title rectangle in the lower center which is blank, suggesting this may be a more rare preproduction proof. There are wide white margins.
Creator: George Brookshaw (1751 - 1823, British)
Creation Year: 1812
Dimensions: Height: 25.75 in (65.41 cm)
Width: 22.5 in (57.15 cm)
Depth: 1.13 in (2.88 cm)
Medium: Engraving, Aquatint
Condition: See description below.
This is a 19th century colored aquatint and stipple engraving finished by hand entitled "White Hamburgh Grape", drawn and engraved by George Brookshaw and published in London in 1812 as plate 60 in his 'Pomona Britannica; or, A Collection of the Most Esteemed Fruits'. It depicts a cluster of pale green grapes still on the vine. The vine and leaves are shown in attractive shades of green and brown. The plant lays on a brown textured background with shadows to impart 3-dimensionality. The scene is reminiscent of an engraving in an 18th century artistically stylized human anatomy atlas. There is a light brown title rectangle in the lower center which is blank, suggesting this may be a more rare preproduction proof. There are wide white margins.
Creator: George Brookshaw (1751 - 1823, British)
Creation Year: 1812
Dimensions: Height: 25.75 in (65.41 cm)
Width: 22.5 in (57.15 cm)
Depth: 1.13 in (2.88 cm)
Medium: Engraving, Aquatint
Condition: See description below.
This is a 19th century colored aquatint and stipple engraving finished by hand entitled "White Hamburgh Grape", drawn and engraved by George Brookshaw and published in London in 1812 as plate 60 in his 'Pomona Britannica; or, A Collection of the Most Esteemed Fruits'. It depicts a cluster of pale green grapes still on the vine. The vine and leaves are shown in attractive shades of green and brown. The plant lays on a brown textured background with shadows to impart 3-dimensionality. The scene is reminiscent of an engraving in an 18th century artistically stylized human anatomy atlas. There is a light brown title rectangle in the lower center which is blank, suggesting this may be a more rare preproduction proof. There are wide white margins.
Creator: George Brookshaw (1751 - 1823, British)
Creation Year: 1812
Dimensions: Height: 25.75 in (65.41 cm)
Width: 22.5 in (57.15 cm)
Depth: 1.13 in (2.88 cm)
Medium: Engraving, Aquatint
Condition: See description below.
This striking engraving is presented in a reddish brown decorative wood frame with a darker brown scroll-work outer trim and a gold-colored inner fillet and a thick light beige mat. The frame measures 26" high, 22" wide and 1.13" deep. It is glazed with UV conservation glass. There is a tiny spot in the lower margin on the left and another in the left margin. The print and frame are otherwise in excellent condition.
There is a second Brookshaw engraving that is framed in identical moulding, although a slightly different size and a different color mat. It depicts a Silver Rock Melon. The two prints would make a striking display pairing. It can be viewed by typing LU1173211327532 in the search field to be taken to the listing. A discount is available for purchase of the pair.
Brookshaw spent nearly ten years to create 'Pomona Brittanica'. It is considered a masterpiece among 19th-century British illustrated botanical books due to the illustrations that Brookshaw both drew and engraved for the book. He combined aquatint, stipple and line engraving techniques with unique elegant compositions of his subjects portrayed in rich pleasing colors contrasted by striking and dramatic deep chocolate brown backgrounds that make the fruit appear to float off of the paper. His compositions achieved a unique level of artistic style and beauty combined with academic and scientific content that was rare among the work of other artists of the time.
George Brookshaw (1751–1823) began his career as a cabinet-maker specializing in furniture decorated with borders of flowers. He became a professional art teacher and in 1797 he published an instructional guide entitled "A New Treatise on Flower Painting". He eventually became a professional artist and author, publishing 'Pomona Brittanica' in 1812, late in his career. His goal was to create a visual display of some of the best examples of fruit available in England at the time, which he hoped would encourage gardeners to experiment and to be creative in their gardens. 90 striking drawings and engravings of over 250 varieties of fruit are illustrated, including apples, peaches, melons, grapes and pears. Some of the subjects for his illustrations were found in the royal gardens at Hampton Court, Kensington Gardens and the Prince of Wales' estate in Blackheath.
