Francis Wheatley

"Sweet China Oranges": An 18th Century Engraving from The Cries of London Series

1794

This hand colored stipple engraving entitled "Cactus Opuntia Polyanthos, Cierge Raquette Multiflore" by Pierre-Joseph Redouté, Plate 59 from his illustrated publication 'Plantarum Historia Succulentarum ou Histoire des Plantes Grasses', published in Paris in 1799. Redoute was a pioneer of the stipple engraving technique, which he used to create this image. It involves utilizing a series of small dots worked into a copper plate rather than the more common lines. These dots can be made smaller or thicker depending on the degree of opacity the artist intends for various areas of the print. When inked and applied to paper, this allows for a greater portion of the paper to be seen, which accentuates the appearance of luminosity of the subject the artist is creating. Different color inks are used in the printing process, a time consuming technique known as "a la poupee". The engraving is then finished with watercolor to further enhance the beauty and realism of the print subject. This engraving of a flowering cactus is presented in a double mat; white outer mat and heather green inner mat.The mat measures 20" x 16" and the sheet measures 19.5" x 13.38". There are wide margins with a few short tears and chips along the the right and upper edges, which are all covered by the mat. There are small spots predominantly in the margins, but a few are present in the image area, but the print is otherwise in very good condition. There is another Redoute flowering cactus listed on 1stdibs, LU117326854582. The pair would make an attractive display grouping. Pierre-Joseph Redouté (1759-1840), was a painter and botanist originally from Belgium, who pursued his extremely successful artistic career in France. He is well known for his watercolor paintings of roses, lilies and other flowers and their subsequent folio-sized, color stipple engravings. Some believe him to be the greatest botanical illustrator of all time. Redouté was a favorite of the French royal court at the time and of the post French...

This framed hand-colored stipple engraving entitled "Cactus Peruvianus Cierge du Pérou" by Pierre-Joseph Redouté, Plate 58 from his illustrated publication 'Plantarum Historia Succulentarum ou Histoire des Plantes Grasses', published in Paris in 1799. It depicts a branching limb of a cactus with a beautiful flower. There is a separate detail of the anatomy of a seed with early growth. Redoute was a pioneer of the stipple engraving technique, which he used to create this image. It involves utilizing a series of small dots worked into a copper plate rather than the more common lines. These dots can be made smaller or thicker depending on the degree of opacity the artist intends for various areas of the print. When inked and applied to paper, this allows for a greater portion of the paper to be seen, which accentuates the appearance of luminosity of the subject the artist is creating. Different color inks are used in the printing process, a time consuming technique known as "a la poupee". The engraving is then finished with watercolor to further enhance the beauty and realism of the print subject. This engraving of a flowering cactus is presented in silver-colored ribbed wood frame and a double mat; cream-colored outer mat and heather green inner mat. The frame measures 21.25" high by 17.25" wide by 1.13" deep. The sheet measures 19.88" high by 14" wide. There are wide margins with a few short tears and chips along the the left, right and upper edges, which are all covered by the mat. There are small spots predominantly in the margins, with a few present in the image area. The print is otherwise in very good condition. There is another Redoute flowering cactus listed on 1stdibs, LU117326853392, which is framed and matted identically to this one. The pair would make an attractive display grouping. Pierre-Joseph Redouté (1759-1840), was a painter and botanist originally from Belgium, who pursued his extremely successful artistic career in France. He is well known for his watercolor paintings of roses, lilies and other flowers and their subsequent folio-sized, color stipple engravings. Some believe him to be the greatest botanical illustrator of all time. Redouté was a favorite of the French royal court at the time and of the post French...

This engraving is entitled "Philadelphia, PA- The Centennial Exposition - the Jury of Award on an Inspection Tour in the Wine Vaults of Agricultural Hall", ...

A beautifully framed hand-colored engraving from the famous "Cries of London" series, depicting the lives and professions of the common people of 18th ...

This is a beautifully framed engraving, printed in colors with additional hand coloring, from the famous "Cries of London" series, depicting the lives and professions of the common p...

This is a beautifully framed engraving, printed in colors with additional hand coloring, from the famous "Cries of London" series, depicting the lives and professions of the common p...

After William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764) Royal Sports PIT TICKET • Engraving by William Dent (British), active from 1783 to 1793 • Inscribed bottom right: Dent sculp • Plate ca. 7.6 x 9.1cm • Image ca. 6.3 x 7.9 cm • Sheet ca. 23.5 x 15 cm Fantastic imagery full of detail and symbolism – For example discover the cast shadow of the dept collector with his truncheon, looming over the winner, whose fast gained riches are being stolen by a thief as we watch. This well know subject was originally created by the famous British artist William Hogarth and then reproduced over time by many contemporary artists as prints of various formats and as paintings. Here we have a rendition engraved by William Dent, who was active from 1783 to 1793 and signed his work in the plate bottom right. I think this impression would date to the late 18th or then to the very early 19th Century. I was told, that these small prints, served as entry tickets to cock fights in Georgian England...

REDOUTÉ Pierre-Joseph. Iris Florentina Paris, Chez L’Auteur, 1802-16 The highest peak of Redoute's artistic and botanical achievement... Among the most important monuments of bo...

REDOUTÉ, Pierre-Joseph. Lilium Superbum Paris, Chez L’Auteur, 1802-16 The highest peak of Redoute's artistic and botanical achievement... Among the most important monuments of b...

18th-century celestial FLAMSTEED, John. Eridanus Orion Lepus London, C. Nourse, 1753. A fine star chart from the Atlas Coelestis, the largest and most accurate star atlas publish...

18th-century celestial FLAMSTEED, John. Pegasus London, C. Nourse, 1753. A fine star chart from the Atlas Coelestis, the largest and most accurate star atlas published up to that...

REDOUTE, Pierre-Joseph. Narcissus Paris, Chez L’Auteur, 1802-16 The highest peak of Redoute's artistic and botanical achievement... Among the most important monuments of botanic...