The Brookshaw Pl. 70, Melon captures the fruit at peak ripeness and presents it suspended against a toned atmospheric background.
Rendered through the process of aquatint and stipple engraving, the image is composed of a series of engraved dots that lend a soft, supple appearance to the delectable fruit. The engraved image is enhanced with original hand-applied watercolor that brings the fruit to life. Ornament your walls with this decadent harvest!
About Pomona Britannica
Published from 1804 – 1812 by George Brookshaw, Pomona Britannica contains 90 aquatint engravings depicting 256 varieties of fruit cultivated in Britain. Plums, peaches, melons, apples, and grapes set against light cream or stoic brown backgrounds populate the folio. Brookshaw’s folio is intended to cultivate the tastes of higher-class gentlemen so that they might instruct their gardeners on implementing fashionable fruit varietals. Additionally, the engravings were intended to serve as instructive illustrations for botanists and pomologists, while also remaining aesthetic and enchanting as works of art. Pomona Britannica was described by S. T. Prideaux as “one of the finest colour plate books in existence.”
About George Brookshaw
George Brookshaw (1751 – 1823) was born in Birmingham, England, and spent the early stages of his career building fine cabinets detailed with hand-painted botanical and pomological motifs. His clientele included none other than the Prince of Wales and examples of his cabinetry may be seen today at the Victoria & Albert Museum, London. However, after a period of financial difficulty, Brookshaw turned to botanical illustration and gave flower-painting lessons. Brookshaw’s most notable publication is Pomona Britannica (1812) which illustrates “the Most Esteemed Fruits” cultivated in England at that time.
For more information about Brookshaw Pl. 70, Melon, email us at [email protected] or check out our articles The Historical Significance of Botanical Illustration and A Comparative Analysis of Poiteau and Brookshaw’s Pomological Prints.
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