Tamarind Tree (Tamarindus indica) – Original Hand-Colored Engraving by Elisabeth Blackwell

This refined botanical engraving depicts the Tamarind Tree (Tamarindus indica), presenting a branching specimen with characteristic compound leaves and distinctive podded fruit.

Rendered with careful balance, its feathery foliage is arranged rhythmically along the stem, while the hanging pods introduce visual weight and contrast. Elisabeth Blackwell’s approach emphasizes structural clarity, allowing leaf, flower, and fruit to be read distinctly within a composed and orderly image.

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 along a central vertical axis, from which lateral branches extend with measured regularity. The finely divided leaves create a light, textural surface, while the curved pods provide a strong counterpoint through form and colour.

Subtle tonal variations model the foliage with depth and softness, while the warmer colouring of the fruit introduces emphasis without overwhelming the palette. The result is a balanced image that combines analytical clarity with restrained decorative presence.

About the Subject

The tamarind tree (Tamarindus indica) was known in early European medicine as an imported medicinal plant, introduced through expanding trade networks linking Europe with Africa and Asia. The acidic pulp of its pods was widely valued for cooling, laxative, and digestive preparations, frequently appearing in apothecary recipes and pharmacopoeias. Because tamarind was unfamiliar to many European practitioners, accurate visual representation was essential to distinguish it from other pod-bearing trees and to ensure correct identification of the medicinal fruit. Its inclusion in A Curious Herbal reflects the growing importance of exotic materia medica in early eighteenth-century medical practice, as well as the need to integrate newly imported species into established systems of botanical 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