Treatise on Fruit Trees Pl.43
Henri-Louis Duhamel du Monceau
1768
Step into an 18th-century orchard with this meticulous botanical illustration of the 'Calville Blanche' apple, originally drawn by Claude Aubriet. The print dissects the plant's anatomy, featuring delicate white blossoms at the top and a cluster of pale, ribbed fruits nestled among serrated green leaves. At the bottom, a cross-section reveals the intricate star-shaped seed core, sitting beside a whole fruit that highlights its distinctive, slightly flattened shape. Created for Henri-Louis Duhamel du Monceau's comprehensive treatise on fruit trees, such hand-colored engravings served as the scientific photography of their day, helping gardeners identify and cultivate rare varieties.
- Technique
- Hand-colored engraving