Traité des arbres fruitiers Pl.55
Henri-Louis Duhamel du Monceau
1768
Step into an 18th-century orchard with this detailed study of the 'Reinette Franche' apple, a variety whose name translates to 'Little Queen'—fitting for such a regal fruit! The illustration acts as a complete visual guide, displaying the delicate pink blossoms at the top, the unripe green fruit on the branch, and the mature, blushing red-and-yellow apple below. The cross-section reveals the star-shaped seed core, a detail crucial for botanists classifying fruit varieties long before modern science. Originally drawn by Claude Aubriet for Henri-Louis Duhamel du Monceau’s famous treatise on fruit trees, it perfectly blends scientific accuracy with artistic beauty.
- Technique
- Hand-colored engraving