12399 James Sowerby (1757–1822) – Botanical Study of Water Speedwell (Veronica anagallis-aquatica) – Hand-coloured etching (1799)
"Veronica anagallis-aquatica". This botanical illustration depicts a flourishing specimen of Water Speedwell, showing its upright, succulent stem and opposite, lance-shaped leaves. The plant is topped with multiple axillary racemes of small, pale blue or lilac flowers. At the base of the etching, Sowerby includes technical dissections of a single four-petaled flower, the calyx, and the heart-shaped seed capsule to assist in scientific identification. This work was published in London on October 1, 1799, as part of the series English Botany, or Coloured Figures of British Plants, with Hints of their Characters. The series was a landmark collaboration between Sowerby and Sir James Edward Smith, providing the first comprehensive visual record of the flora of the British Isles.
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: 1799.
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.
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