Pl. 67. "Caryphyllus X/Mercurius"

Georg Dionysius Ehret (1708-1770) was the dominant influence in European botanical art during the mid 18th century. He was trained as a gardener, so his scientific and practical interest in his subjects was assured.  Ehret painted many extraordinary watercolors and water colored engravings. These works reveal his love of plants and his unique talents as a botanical artist.   Ehret's travels brought him into contact with Sir Hans Sloan, Carolus Linneaus, Philip Miller, Johann Weinmann and many other important scientists and botanical artists of his time, but it was his generous patron, Dr. Christof Trew who made his most famous works possible; Hortus Nitidissimus and Plantae Selectae.   This beautiful image of a carnation with a butterfly and a caterpillar was contained in Hortus Nitidissimus, a work which is considered to be "one of the finest records of cultivated flowers of the period" (Dunthorne, #310).  Dr.Trew carefully selected beautiful images created by Ehret, Wirsing, Seligmann, Keller, Eisenberger and others to serve as the basis of the engravings for his volumes. This is an esepcially beautiful image with a butterfly and a caterpillar on the flower's stem.

20 x 13 inches, sheet.
Hand colored copperplate engraving.
Excellent condition with light overall patina.