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Elizabeth Blackwell
Elizabeth Blackwell Collection

About the Item

Hand-colored copper engraving on laid paper by Nikolaus Freidrich Eisenberger (1707-1771), after drawings by Scottish-born artist Mrs. Elizabeth Blackwell (1700-1758). Originally published by Samuel Harding in London in 1737-39 as A Curious Herbal: Containing 500 Cuts of the Most Useful Plants which Are Now Used in the Practice of Physick, this plate was reissued in by Christopher Jacob Trew, Nuremberg Germany 1757-1773 in an expanded version as Herbarium Blackwellianum Emendatum et Auctum. Plates were re-engraved by Eisenberger, with details of blooms, fruits, etc. added to the Blackwell's original drawings. A Curious Herbal was designed to fulfill a need for updated reference work on medicinal plants for physicians and apothecaries that included many new species of plants from the Americas. The story of its creation is rather colorful and unique. Elizabeth Blackwell was neither a botanist nor a professional artist, but rather was motivated to pursue the project by the need to earn money in order to free her husband, Alexander Blackwell, from debtor's prison. Using specimens from the Chelsea Physick Garden of pharmaceutical plants, she created 4 plates a week with her husband supplying the accompanying text from prison. Also remarkable was the fact that she not only drew the illustrations but also engraved and colored the prints. In 1739 publisher John Nourse printed two large folio volumes containing all 500 of Blackwell’s engravings. The work was such a success that she was able to secure Alexander's release from prison. Unfortunately Alexander continued pursuing questionable ventures and incurring more debt. In 1742 he left his family for Sweden where he eventually became embroiled in court politics, and was beheaded for treason in 1747. Elizabeth was loyal to her husband to the end, regularly sending him a portion of the royalties earned from the herbal publication. She lived on for another decade but little else is known of those remaining years of her life.
  • Creator:
    Elizabeth Blackwell (1707 - 1758, British)
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 14.25 in (36.2 cm)Width: 9.25 in (23.5 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Period:
  • Framing:
    Framing Options Available
  • Condition:
    Some age-related toning and wear.
  • Gallery Location:
    Mount Vernon, NY
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: 675,677,678,679,6801stDibs: LU1348211586312
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