Besler Autumn Snowflake and Meadow Saffron Flowers: 17th C. Botanical Engraving
A hand-colored copperplate engraving entitled "Leucoium bulbosum autumnale tenufolium (Autumn Snowflake); Colchicum vulgare Polyanthos; Colchicum biflorum; Colchicum vulgare album; Colchicum valgare purpura scente flore" (Meadow Saffrons) from Basilius Besler's landmark work, Hortus Eystettensis (Garden at Eichstatt), first published in 1613 in Eichstatt, Germany near Nuremberg and later in 1640 and 1713.
Creator: Basilius Besler
Creation Year: 1613
Dimensions: Height: 29.63 in (75.27 cm) Width: 26.38 in (67.01 cm) Depth: 1 in (2.54 cm)
Medium: Engraving
Condition: See description below.
A hand-colored copperplate engraving entitled "Leucoium bulbosum autumnale tenufolium (Autumn Snowflake); Colchicum vulgare Polyanthos; Colchicum biflorum; Colchicum vulgare album; Colchicum valgare purpura scente flore" (Meadow Saffrons) from Basilius Besler's landmark work, Hortus Eystettensis (Garden at Eichstatt), first published in 1613 in Eichstatt, Germany near Nuremberg and later in 1640 and 1713.
Creator: Basilius Besler
Creation Year: 1613
Dimensions: Height: 29.63 in (75.27 cm) Width: 26.38 in (67.01 cm) Depth: 1 in (2.54 cm)
Medium: Engraving
Condition: See description below.
A hand-colored copperplate engraving entitled "Leucoium bulbosum autumnale tenufolium (Autumn Snowflake); Colchicum vulgare Polyanthos; Colchicum biflorum; Colchicum vulgare album; Colchicum valgare purpura scente flore" (Meadow Saffrons) from Basilius Besler's landmark work, Hortus Eystettensis (Garden at Eichstatt), first published in 1613 in Eichstatt, Germany near Nuremberg and later in 1640 and 1713.
Creator: Basilius Besler
Creation Year: 1613
Dimensions: Height: 29.63 in (75.27 cm) Width: 26.38 in (67.01 cm) Depth: 1 in (2.54 cm)
Medium: Engraving
Condition: See description below.
This engraving is presented in a glossy silver and matte gold-colored wood frame with a green edge and elaborate double cream-colored French mats with light mauve bands; each accented by a broad decorative marbleized green band. It is glazed with plexiglass. A full size copy of the title page of Besler's book "Hortus Eystettensis" is affixed to the frame's back paper. There is faint text offset, frequent in Besler prints, and a central horizontal crease that appears related to the paper manufacture or printing process. The print is otherwise in excellent condition. There is a small scratch in the right upper portion of the frame. Provenance: Arader Galleries
There are two additional listings of Besler hand colored botanical engravings are available for sale. They are identically framed and matted and would make a beautiful display grouping of two or three prints. A discount is available for an order of two or three of these botanical engravings, depending on the number purchased.
Basilius Besler (1561–1629) was an apothecary and botanist. He was curator of the Willibaldsburg Castle garden of Johann Konrad von Gemmingen, prince bishop of Eichstätt, in Bavaria, who supported Besler's academic and artistic creation and whose funds allowed the purchase of exotic plants from all over Europe. Besler spent 16 years producing drawings of 1084 varieties of plants and flowers in different seasons. These were then engraved on copper plates by master artists, resulting in the 367 beautiful and detailed engravings which comprise Besler's monumental florilegium Hortus Eystettensis, the first large-scale botanical publication.
