Antique Natural HistoryOriginal plates from the naturalists' books, 1600s to 1900s
Contrasts in Nature: Pelargonium and Brassica - Botanical Art from 1880
Contrasts in Nature: Pelargonium and Brassica - Botanical Art from 1880, view 2
Contrasts in Nature: Pelargonium and Brassica - Botanical Art from 1880, view 3
Contrasts in Nature: Pelargonium and Brassica - Botanical Art from 1880, view 4

Close-ups

Contrasts in Nature: Pelargonium and Brassica - Botanical Art from 1880, close-up 1Contrasts in Nature: Pelargonium and Brassica - Botanical Art from 1880, close-up 2

Framed and on the wall

Contrasts in Nature: Pelargonium and Brassica - Botanical Art from 1880, shown framedContrasts in Nature: Pelargonium and Brassica - Botanical Art from 1880, shown framed on a wallContrasts in Nature: Pelargonium and Brassica - Botanical Art from 1880, shown framed in a room

Frame and rooms are illustrations of how the print could look; the description says what is included.

Contrasts in Nature: Pelargonium and Brassica - Botanical Art from 1880

$135 (£100, €120)

Period original, not a reproduction.

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Date
1880
Size
10.6 × 7.1 in (27 × 18 cm)
Condition
Good. Given age. General age-related toning and/or occasional minor defects from handling. Please study scan carefully. Comes with protective sheet and text sheet in French.
Period
Late 19th century
Section
Botanical
Reference
f_38839932

The image shows two botanical prints from "Les Plantes A Feuillage Colore Tome Second," published in Paris in 1880 with J.Rothschild as the publisher (Editeur).

On the left, there is an illustration labeled "Pelargonium Zonale VII," which depicts four leaves of a zonal geranium. These leaves are heart-shaped with a velvety texture, showcasing a vibrant green color with a distinct, darker circular zone marking each leaf. The color transitions from the intense green edges to a yellow-green middle, then to the deep red-brown central zone.

On the right, we see a plant labeled "Brassica Sinensis, Var. LX," which appears to be a variety of Chinese cabbage, also known as bok choy. This leafy vegetable is characterized by its highly ruffled leaves with a thick, central purple-red vein that contrasts with the green of the leaf. The plant also features a long stalk with leaves growing from it, illustrating a common trait of leafy vegetables where the leaves grow directly from the stem in a rosette pattern.

These prints demonstrate the intricate details and vivid coloration that were used to document plant varieties in the 19th century, providing both a scientific resource and an aesthetic representation of horticultural specimens.