12397 James Sowerby (1757–1822) – Botanical Study of Common Hop (Humulus lupulus) – Hand-coloured etching (1797)
"Humulus lupulus". This botanical illustration depicts a flowering branch of the Common Hop, featuring its characteristic lobed, serrated leaves and delicate clusters of pale yellow flowers. The composition also includes a detailed representation of the strobile or cone-like fruit at the bottom left, alongside small floral dissections that clarify the reproductive parts of the plant. This work was published in London on July 1, 1797, as part of the series English Botany, or Coloured Figures of British Plants, with Hints of their Characters. The project was a collaboration with botanist James Edward Smith and was celebrated for its contribution to British natural history.
James Sowerby was a prolific English naturalist, illustrator, and mineralogist who became one of the most significant figures in scientific publishing during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. He was a fellow of the Linnean Society and the Royal Society, known for his extraordinary ability to combine artistic elegance with rigorous botanical accuracy. Sowerby contributed thousands of plates to various publications, including the Mineral Conchology of Great Britain and the multi-volume English Botany, which remained a standard reference for generations. His family established a long-running dynasty of scientific illustrators, continuing his legacy of documenting the natural world with technical mastery.
Artist or Maker: James Sowerby.
Dimensions: Approximately 23 cm x 14 cm.
Medium: Hand-coloured etching.
Date: 1797.
Condition Report:
This work is in good condition overall. There may be a few minor imperfections or fox or mottled marks to be expected with age. Please review the images carefully for condition details, and feel free to contact us with any questions or for a comprehensive condition report.
| Estimate | 100 - 200 SEK |
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| Hammer Fee (inc. VAT) | 6 SEK |
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