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Regency Opulence: Brookshaw's Plums, Plate XVII, Dated 1806
$1,850
£1,435.95
€1,636.03
CA$2,643.85
A$2,879.35
CHF 1,518.18
MX$35,021.24
NOK 19,091.08
SEK 17,905.87
DKK 12,216.72
About the Item
Regency Opulence: Brookshaw's Plums from Pomona Britannica
Object: Hand-Finished Aquatint and Stipple Engraving (Plate XVII)
Artist/Author: George Brookshaw (British, active 1780-1822)
Publication: Pomona Britannica (Originally published in parts 1803-1812)
Date: 1806
Subject: Red Magnum Bonum, Blue Perdrigon, Le Royal, and White Magmum Bonum Plums.
Medium: Aquatint and Stipple Engraving, Printed in Color and Finished by Hand.
Dimensions: Framed: 26 1/4 inches x 21 1/4 inches x 3/4 inch deep (66.68 cm x 53.98 cm x 1.91 cm).
The Art of the Ripened State
This magnificent print, Plate XVII from George Brookshaw's seminal work, Pomona Britannica, transcends mere botanical record to become a masterpiece of Regency-era decorative art. Created in 1806, the image depicts four distinct varieties of plums suspended on their branches against a dramatic, rich aquatint background. This technique of removing the subject from the mundane setting and placing it against a contrasting dark field was highly innovative and distinguishes Brookshaw's work from the purely scientific illustrations of his contemporaries.
Brookshaw, a retired cabinetmaker, employed a complex printmaking method, combining the delicate shading of stipple engraving with the tonal depth of aquatint, which was then meticulously finished with hand coloring. This technical virtuosity resulted in images so sumptuous that Pomona Britannica has been described as "one of the finest color plate folios in existence."
Historical Context: Horticulture and High Status
Pomona Britannica was published to be a "visual record of the best available varieties of fruit," intended to encourage high-end gardening practices in Britain. The fruits illustrated were drawn from prestigious sources, including the Royal Gardens at Hampton Court and the private gardens of the Prince of Wales.
By publishing this work, Brookshaw provided an aspirational visual document that appealed directly to the wealthy elite of the early 19th century. The resulting engravings, such as this plate featuring plums, were considered essential wall decor for the educated and fashionable, serving as a testament to the owner's knowledge of both the fine arts and elite horticultural pursuits. The inscription, "Painted & Published as the Act Directs by the Author G. Brookshaw 1806," further asserts its authenticity and legal standing as a significant work of graphic art.
Potential References
Prideaux, S.T.: Aquatint Engraving: A Chapter in the History of Book Illustration (For technical context on the print medium).
Heald, Donald A.: (Writings on Pomona Britannica for context on its status as a "finest work on fruit").
British Library or Royal Horticultural Society Collections (For comparative plates from the original folio).
(Ref: NY09426-klrr)
- Creator:George Brookshaw (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 26.25 in (66.68 cm)Width: 21.25 in (53.98 cm)Depth: 0.75 in (1.91 cm)
- Style:Georgian (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1806
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Downingtown, PA
- Reference Number:Seller: NY9426-mrr1stDibs: LU861020478452
George Brookshaw
George Brookshaw began his artistic career as a teacher of watercolor painting. During the prime of his life, he was a sought-after cabinetmaker, creating finely-painted neoclassical furniture for patrons such as the Prince of Wales (the future King George IV). However, public records about his career disappear in the mid-1790s, about the same time that his prominent marriage collapsed. There is no mention of him until the Pomona Britannica began its release in 1804. Historian Lucy Wood suggests that Brookshaw began a new career in botanical studies under the name G. Brown, author of A New Treatise on Flower Painting, a painting instruction text. Several plates in the 1817 supplement to that work are now attributed to Brookshaw. Plate 27 by George Brookshaw from one of the finest volumes on pomology, "Pomona Britannica or a Collection of the Most Esteemed Fruits at Present Cultivated in Great Britain". Many of Brookshaw’s models came from the Royal Gardens at Hampton Court and Kensington Gardens.
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