Wild Olive Tree (Olea europaea) – Original Hand-Colored Engraving by Elisabeth Blackwell

This refined botanical engraving depicts the Wild Olive Tree (Olea europaea), presenting a fruiting branch with restrained balance and clear botanical definition.

Rendered with a calm, upright structure, its narrow, elongated leaves are arranged rhythmically along the stem. Small developing fruits punctuate the composition, while Elisabeth Blackwell’s approach emphasizes clarity and proportion, allowing the essential characteristics of the species to be read at a glance.

Created in the early eighteenth century, this plate belongs to A Curious Herbal, a foundational medical and botanical work distinguished by the unity of its production, in which drawing, copper engraving, and hand-colouring were executed by the same hand.

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Visual and Aesthetic Analysis

The composition develops through a gently branching vertical axis, creating a sense of natural order and measured growth. The alternating leaves establish a steady visual rhythm, while the fruit provides subtle points of emphasis without disrupting the overall restraint of the image.

Muted tonal transitions define the foliage with depth and texture, and the restrained colouring of the fruit introduces contrast while preserving balance. The overall palette reinforces the engraving’s documentary intent and quiet visual authority.

About the Subject

In early botanical and medical literature, the wild olive—often referred to as the oleaster—was carefully distinguished from the cultivated olive. While less valued for agricultural yield, it played an important role in medical botany: its leaves and oil were associated with astringent, cleansing, and restorative properties, and were frequently cited in remedies connected to inflammation and skin ailments. The wild form was also regarded as a reference species for understanding grafting practices, as cultivated olives were commonly improved by grafting onto wild stock. Its inclusion in A Curious Herbal reflects the period’s practical concern with recognising both wild and domesticated variants, ensuring accurate identification for medicinal use and for broader agricultural knowledge.

Condition Report

The engraving is in exceptionally fine antique condition, printed on original handmade laid paper typical of early 18th-century botanical publications. No watermark has been observed. The surface remains fresh and stable, with light, even age-related toning consistent with period paper. The impression is crisp and legible throughout, with well-preserved margins. The engraved credit “Eliz. Blackwell delin. sculp. et pinx.” is present and fully legible, confirming the unified authorship of the plate.

Details

• Artist: Elisabeth Blackwell
• Work / Publication: A Curious Herbal
• Period: 1737–1739
• Technique: Original copper engraving, drawn, engraved, and hand-colored by Elisabeth Blackwell
• Paper: Original handmade laid paper
• Watermark: None observed
• Sheet size: approx. 37 × 22 cm

For further context on Elisabeth Blackwell and the unified authorship behind A Curious Herbal, see our editorial feature:

Elisabeth Blackwell – A Curious Herbal