| Method | Copper engraving with hand colouring |
| Artist | Matthäus Merian |
| Published | [Frankfurt, c.1719] |
| Dimensions | Image 245 x 152 mm, Plate 250 x 155 mm, Sheet 400 x 250 mm |
| Notes |
Text in plate reads: Hyacinthus Indicus Tuberosa Radice maior, auctumnalis, flore albo adoratissim. et polianthos. An illustration of Polianthes, formerly called the Indian Hyacinth, from Michael Bernhard Valentini's 1719 publication Viridarium Reformatum, seu Regnum Vegetabile: Krauter Buch. Valentini's publication drew upon an earlier publication by Matthäus Merian, 'Florilegium renovatum et auctum: variorum maximeque rariorum germinum, forum ac plantarum.' Merian's Florilegium renovatum et auctum, first published in 1641, was an enlarged version of Johann Theodor de Bry's (1561-1623) Florilegium novum, hoc est: variorum maximeque rariorum florum ac plantarum singularium un cum suis radicibus & cepis. First published in 1611, with several issues being published over the following few years, de Bry's version drew upon a variety of sources for the illustrations, including Pierre Vallet's Le Jardin du Roy (Paris, 1608), Basilius Besler's Hortus Eystettensis (Eichstatt and Nuremberg, 1613) and Crispian van de Pass's Hortus floridus (Utrecht and Arnheim, 1614-1616). De Bry's plates, however, were much more than simply copies. Careful composition, confident lines and fine shading are vividly apparent in de Bry's illustrations. 18 years after de Bry's death, Merian produced Florilegium renovatum et auctum. Merian's version contained nearly double the number of plates as de Bry's, and depicted the exotic flowers and plants growing in the gardens in and around Frankfurt. A later edition of Florilegium renovatum et auctum was published in 1644. Matthäus Merian the Elder (1593-1650) was a Swiss engraver born in Basel. Beginning his career in Zürich where he learned the art of copperplate engraving, Merian went on to study and work in various cities throughout France. In 1615, Merian returned to Basel. His return to Basel, however, was short lived, moving to Frankfurt the following year to work for the publisher Johann Theodor de Bry. Merian later married de Bry's daughter. He was also the father of Maria Sibylla Merian, one of the greatest natural history artists of the late 17th and early 18th centuries. Following de Bry's death in 1623, Merian took over his father-in-law's publishing house. Gaining his citizenship in Frankfurt in 1626, Merian was able to work as an independent publisher, where he spent the majority of his career. Johann Theodor de Bry or Jan Dirk de Bry (1561-1623) was a Flemish-born printmaker and publisher, the son of Theodor de Bry. He worked in the family publishing firm in Frankfurt and moved it to Oppenheim in 1609 until 1620. Johann often worked together with his father and other family members, and specialised in the production of emblem books and grotesques. He also reproduced engravings after old masters, such as Maarten de Vos, Sebald Beham, Abraham Bloemaert and even Titian. Condition: Excellent impression with full margins. Printers' crease to bottom right corner of sheet, just outside platemark. Minor ink staining to left margin, not affecting plate. Framed in a period style gold frame. |
| Framing | framed |
| Price | £375.00 |
| Stock ID | 50498 |