William Curtis

Set of Six Hand-Colored Engravings from Curtis's Botanical Magazine /// Botany

1804-1816

"Coffee" the Perfect Meal - Menu - Beverages - Intaglio by Raymond Perez The artwork "Second Course Fish" by Raymond Perez, created one of a group show at San Francisco State Univer...

"Church of St. Aignan Chartres" Etching in Ink on Paper (Demonstration Plate) Delicate and detailed drypoint etching of the Church of St. Aignan in Chartres, France by John Taylor Arms (American, 1887-1953). The viewer stands in an alley near the church, looking out of the shadows at the sunlit towers. The architectural details of the church are well-captured, including the texture of the stone walls, the roof, and ornamental detail. Titled, signed, dated, and inscribed along the bottom edge: Sketch, Saint Aignon, Chartres John Taylor Arms 1950 The inscription includes details about production, as well as a dedication "To my friends Georgia and Jasper Mathews, with my sincerest good wishes" Presented in a wood frame with an off-white mat. Frame size: 12.5"H x 9.25"W Image size: 7"H x 4.5"W John Taylor Arms was born in Washington, DC in 1887. He studied law at Princeton University, transferring to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston, to study architecture, graduating in 1912. After serving as an officer in the United States Navy during World War I, he devoted himself full-time to etching. He published his first original etchings in 1919. His initial subject was the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City near which he worked. Arms developed a successful career as a graphic artist in the 1920s and 1930s, specializing in series of etchings of Gothic churches and cathedrals in France and Italy. In addition to medieval subjects, Arms made a series of prints of American cities. He used sewing needles and magnifying glasses to get a fine level of detail. A member of many printmaking societies, Arms served as president of the Society of American Graphic Artists. An educator, Arms wrote the Handbook of Print Making and Print Makers (1934) and did numerous demonstrations and lectures. Arms was elected into the National Academy of Design as an Associate member in 1930, and became a full member in 1933. His work was also part of the painting event in the art competition at the 1932 Summer Olympics...

This is a pair of framed hand-colored engravings of an ancient vase in the Palizzy Wares style and a silver gilt tazza (cup) with a cover, both from the 16th century. These were engraved under the supervision of Philip De La Motte...

This piece titled "(Love's) Ring of Fire" is a limited edition piece by Kate VanVliet and is made from intaglio with aquatint, soft ground, and drypoint on Rives BFK. This piece is a...

This piece titled "La Mer VE 1/8" is a variable edition piece by Kate VanVliet and is made from two-plate intaglio with drypoint, aquatint, and soft ground on Rives BFK. This piece i...

This piece titled "La Mer VE 3/8" is a variable edition piece by Kate VanVliet and is made from two-plate intaglio with drypoint, aquatint, and soft ground on Rives BFK. This piece i...

This piece titled "La Mer VE 7/8" is a variable edition piece by Kate VanVliet and is made from two-plate intaglio with drypoint, aquatint, and soft ground on Rives BFK. This piece i...

This piece titled "La Mer VE 6/8" is a variable edition piece by Kate VanVliet and is made from two-plate intaglio with drypoint, aquatint, and soft ground on Rives BFK. This piece i...

Metamorphosis Insectorum Surinamensium, Plate No. 26; Cocoa plant, caterpillar, pupa, and butterflies. The Netherlands: 1705. En...

Four plates from The Wondrous Transformation of Caterpillars and their Strange Diet of Flowers. “Wolfsmelk Rupsen;" “Wolfsmilch, Raupe und Schmetterling" Amsterdam: JF Bernard, 1730. Each an engraving with hand coloring in watercolor and gouache printed on one sheet of watermarked Honig cream laid paper, each measures 6 1/4 x 5 inches (157 x 121 mm), sheet measures 20 5/8 x 14 inches (522 x 355 mm), full margins. With handling creases in the lower right sheet quadrant, as well as minor, loose cockling, otherwise in very good condition. The colors are superb with exceptionally fresh and bright saturation. Engraved between 1679 and 1683, printed 1730. Plates included: CXLI, CXLII, CXIII & CXLIV. MARIA SIBYLLA MERIAN was one of the most highly respected entomologists of the 17th century, and remains today one of the field's most significant figures. A German-born naturalist and scientific illustrator, she reared herself on the study of caterpillars, and made tremendous contributions to the knowledge of the life cycles of numerous species. Until her detailed and careful study of the process of metamorphosis it was thought that insects were "born of mud," through spontaneous generation. Trained as a miniature painter by her stepfather, she published her first book of illustrations in 1675, at the age of 28. In 1679, Merian published the first volume of the two-volume series on caterpillars, The Wondrous Transformation of Caterpillars and their Strange Diet of Flowers; the second volume followed in 1683. Each volume contained 50 plates that she engraved and etched. In 1699, Merian traveled to Dutch Guiana...