Flowering Digitalis Plants: An Original 17th C. Botanical Engraving by E. Sweert
This beautiful and extremely rare early 17th century hand-colored copperplate engraving of four flowering Digitalis plants by the Dutch artist and botanist Emanuel Sweert is plate 6 in his publication "Florilegium amplissimum et selectissimum, quo non tantum varia diversorum florum prestantissimorum...", published initially in 1612. Six editions were published in Frankfort, Germany and in Amsterdam, Netherlands between 1612 and 1647.
Creator: Emanuel Sweert
Creation Year: 1612
Dimensions: Height: 15.5 in (39.37 cm)
Width: 10.38 in (26.37 cm)
Medium: Engraving
Condition: See description below.
This beautiful and extremely rare early 17th century hand-colored copperplate engraving of four flowering Digitalis plants by the Dutch artist and botanist Emanuel Sweert is plate 6 in his publication "Florilegium amplissimum et selectissimum, quo non tantum varia diversorum florum prestantissimorum...", published initially in 1612. Six editions were published in Frankfort, Germany and in Amsterdam, Netherlands between 1612 and 1647.
Creator: Emanuel Sweert
Creation Year: 1612
Dimensions: Height: 15.5 in (39.37 cm)
Width: 10.38 in (26.37 cm)
Medium: Engraving
Condition: See description below.
This beautiful and extremely rare early 17th century hand-colored copperplate engraving of four flowering Digitalis plants by the Dutch artist and botanist Emanuel Sweert is plate 6 in his publication "Florilegium amplissimum et selectissimum, quo non tantum varia diversorum florum prestantissimorum...", published initially in 1612. Six editions were published in Frankfort, Germany and in Amsterdam, Netherlands between 1612 and 1647.
Creator: Emanuel Sweert
Creation Year: 1612
Dimensions: Height: 15.5 in (39.37 cm)
Width: 10.38 in (26.37 cm)
Medium: Engraving
Condition: See description below.
This beautiful hand-colored engraving is printed on laid, chain-linked paper. The sheet measures 15.5" high and 10.38" wide. There is some toning and a few spots, the most prominent in the lower left corner, as well as a very short (2-3 mm.) repaired tear at the right edge of the sheet. The engraving is otherwise in very good condition.
Emanuel Sweert (1552-1612) was a Dutch painter and botanist. He lived in a period when new plants from across the world were being introduced to Europe via Dutch, English and French ships. To meet the interest in plants by the public, nurseries were being established by wealthy merchants in order to meet the demand. Botanical illustrations and publications were produced as nursery inventory catalogues, as well as academic and educational descriptions of these newly discovered plants. Sweert prepared his Florilegium as a guide of his available stock for the Frankfurt Fair of 1612. At the time of the fair, Sweert was employed by Emperor Rudolf II as head of his gardens in Vienna. The plates in his publication depicted some 560 bulbs and flowers. There was great enthusiasm among the public for these plants and for Sweert's publication. His depiction of tulips contributed to the later Dutch "Tulipomania" collecting and investment craze.
References: Cf. Hunt 196; cf. Nissen BBI 1920 &1922; cf. Stafleu & Cowan TL2 13.546.
