Description
1737 Johann Weinmann Original Folio Antique Botanical Print Red Arum, Berries. Johann Weinmann’s Phytanthoza Iconographia, 1737. Johann Weinmann directed a famous pharmacy in Regensburg. Phytanthoza Iconographia. The colors are very fresh and vibrant, with full, generous margins and vibrant coloring. Johann Weinmann’s Phytanthoza Iconographia, 1737 These rare and beautiful prints represent one of the most outstanding and innovative achievements in botanical illustration. The engraver, J.J. Haid printed many of the illustrations utilizing a new mezzotint technique pioneered by the Englishman, Kirkall, to produce 1,025 hand colored engravings. Johann Weinmann directed a famous pharmacy in Regensburg. The Phytanthoza Iconographia was his masterpiece, a huge work in eight folio volumes which provided one of the most comprehensive botanical references of the eighteenth century. Great Flower Books describes it as a “pioneering work of botanical prints” and it remains today one of the most ambitious works ever undertaken, displaying over 4,000 species. Particularly magnificent are the tulips, iris, exotic palms and pineapples, cactus, fruit & vegetables. The artist for the much of the work was the gifted Georg Dionysius Ehret (1708-1770). Born of a humble family in Heidelberg, Ehret was taught to draw by his father at an early age. As a young man, he worked as a gardener first for the Elector of Heidelburg and then the Margrave of Badaen-Durlach. The Margrave had an elaborate botanical garden, particularly renowned for its 5,000 varieties of tulips and 800 varieties of hyacinths. Here Ehret painted these splendid flowers in his leisure time. The favoritism he was shown because of his artistic talents resulted in serious discord amongst the staff & he finally resigned his position, much to the regret of the Margrave. While working as an oarsman on the Danube, he met Johann Wilhelm Weinmann, who hired him to draw for Phytanthoza Iconographia. During the first year he produced 500 drawings for which Weinmann paid him only a fraction of the small sum agreed on, claiming Ehret should have produced 1,000 drawings during this time. Ehret left, becoming one of the foremost botanical artists of his day, collaborating with the wealthy physician & botanist, Jakob Trew, Linnaeus, Philip Miller and many others. We are offering this print from the edition dated 1737-1745 edition and from the original plates, using mezzotints and additional hand coloring, with the text published separately. This print measures approximately 15 by 9 3/4 inches long on chain-lined, hand-made paper, watermarked & in bright original color. The colors are very fresh and vibrant, with full, generous margins and vibrant coloring. On a few there is a little foxing or a little marginal toning, as it often found in the Weinmann. About Antique Prints We try to select antique prints in the best possible condition, with as few defects as possible. Nevertheless, these prints are often hundreds of years old and show the effects of time, as noted below 1. Most common is paper darkening, or toning, resulting in the paper becoming shades darker, from off white to light brown. We rarely offer very toned prints, unless the issue is particularly scarce. 2. Text offset occurs over time, when the text page is against the image and ink from the text makes lines on the image. Conversely, image offset occurs when the hand coloring transfers slightly to the text. Again, we rarely offer heavily offset prints. 3. Spotted or foxing is also common due to age and handling over a long period of time and while a small degree of foxing is common and acceptable, we avoid extensively foxed prints. SHIPPING Shipping is first class and we pack the prints flat and well protected in foam core, unless they are large, when we very carefully roll them with several protective layers. They roll out flat very quickly. This print is shipped flat PAYMENT We are delighted to combine shipments to save on postage. If you wish to combine, please wait to pay until your last purchase up to 4 days. We ship within one day any lots that you have paid for. RETURNS Items May be Returned for a Full Refund within 30 days.