Description
Artist: Besler, Basilius
Title or Name: 1) Cistusflore Albo, 2) Balaustium Flore Minori Romanum, 3) Cotinus
Plate Number: N/A
Publication: Hortis Eystettensis, First Edition (Text on the Verso)
Date Published: 1613, Germany
Medium: Copperplate Engraving with original hand coloring
Paper: Laid (Watermarked)
Condition of Artwork: Spotting across the sheet; light tone across the sheet; soiling across the sheet; light scattered staining; plate ink; paper lose bottom edge; edge tears and splits; full plate mark still present; printers creases
Matting: Double Matted and mounted with acid-free materials
Matted Size: 27″ x 24″
Window Size: 18-1/2″ x 15-3/4″
Paper Size: 22-1/4″ x 18″
Plate Mark; 19″ x 15-3/4″
Includes: Brief Artist Biography
ID #: M 1728
Prints from this publication are extremely rare and feature Original or early hand coloring
Basilius Besler published the “Hortis Eysttensis” in Eichstatt, Germany, in 1613. It was the earliest large folio botanical and most celebrated Florilegium ever published, dedicated to Johann Conrad von Gemmingen, Prince Bishop of Eichstatt. It was from the Prince’s remarkable botanical garden containing many exotic imports that many of the illustrations were inspired. Besler worked on the drawings for almost 16 years and supervised a team of at least 6 engravers. The work depicts over 1000 flowers on 374 copper-engraved plates, representing 667 species. This was a feat of publication, on a scale rarely attempted since. The massive size and elaborately produced copper-engraved plates certainly make this one of the most ambitious botanical publications in history, even pre-dating Linnaean classification. The first edition was published with two issues, one with descriptive text on the verso, and one without text, the latter being the deluxe copies. The deluxe copies, without any text, were meant to be colored. Only a few were colored at the time of publication, and even then we’re very expensive and hard to find. These prints are exquisitely done and are among the rarest botanical prints ever published.
Note: Please read item descriptions for an accurate condition report. Due to digital photography of glazed items, reflections may occur on the glass and appear as shadows and may cause distortion. Shades and coloring in artwork and/or mats can vary slightly from the actual color due to the light conditions under which the photos have been taken. Digital photography can at times cause straight lines in an image or on a mat can appear wavy or broken, particularly in close-ups.
Many of our items are framed in Antique frames, therefore may have chips or repairs due to their age. Please read the descriptions given, as we will disclose all known conditions.
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