Collection: Elizabeth Blackwell

A group of vivacious fruit and flower prints by Elizabeth Blackwell, one of the most famous early eighteenth-century botanical illustrators.  Mrs. Blackwell lived a memorable life, having produced her charming Herbal (1737-9) to get her decidedly unpredictable husband out of debtor’s prison.  As the story goes:  “...she took a lodging near the Chelsea Physic Garden and set about making the drawings and engravings which have made her famous.  From his prison cell Alexander assisted with the text; and so successful was their joint venture that two years later he was released.”  (Wilfrid Blunt, Art of Botanical Illustration, p. 136)