Verhandeling over fruitbomen Pl.59
Henri-Louis Duhamel du Monceau
1768
Step into the 18th-century obsession with botanical oddities with this plate from Henri-Louis Duhamel du Monceau’s famous treatise on fruit trees. It depicts the 'Neflier sans Noyaux,' or seedless medlar, a rare variety that fascinated scientists of the Enlightenment who were busy cataloging nature's quirks. The illustration meticulously breaks down the plant’s anatomy, showing lush green leaves, peculiar brown fruits with their signature open 'eyes,' and delicate pink flowers in various stages of bloom. This hand-colored engraving isn't just a dry scientific record; it’s a celebration of a fruit that defied the norm by lacking seeds, proving that agricultural study could be a thing of beauty.
- Technique
- Hand-colored engraving
- Material
- Paper