12401 James Sowerby (1757–1822) – Botanical Study of Cloudberry (Rubus chamaemorus) – Hand-coloured etching (1800)
"Rubus chamaemorus". This botanical etching illustrates the Cloudberry, an alpine and arctic plant of the rose family. The central figure shows a single upright stem with a large, lobed, serrated leaf and a solitary white flower with a yellow center. To the left, a secondary illustration shows the flower from a different angle, and below that, the maturing fruit is depicted as a cluster of orange-amber drupelets. The plate includes minute dissections of the reproductive organs at the base. This work was published in London on April 1, 1800, as part of the monumental series English Botany, or Coloured Figures of British Plants, with Hints of their Characters. The series was a collaboration with botanist James Edward Smith and is celebrated for its scientific precision.
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: 1800.
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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