Pitch Tree (Picea) – Original Hand-Colored Engraving by Elisabeth Blackwell

This refined botanical engraving depicts the Pitch Tree (Picea), presenting a conifer branch with needles, cones, and seed details arranged for precise botanical reference.

The specimen is rendered with a compact, upright structure, its short, dense needles forming a firm, textured silhouette. The illustrated cones hang prominently from the branches, while Elisabeth Blackwell’s disciplined approach ensures that each element is clearly defined and proportioned within the composition.

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 is structured around a central vertical axis, with branches extending symmetrically to create visual stability. The dense needles generate a compact surface texture, contrasted by the elongated form and patterned scales of the cones.

Subtle tonal modulation defines the foliage and cones without excessive contrast, reinforcing the engraving’s analytical clarity. The restrained palette emphasizes structure over ornament, resulting in an image of quiet authority and botanical precision.

About the Subject

Pitch-producing conifers were of particular importance in early medicine, craft, and domestic practice. The resin obtained from trees commonly referred to as “pitch trees” was used in external medicinal preparations, warming plasters, and protective sealants, and played a practical role in everyday life well beyond botanical study. Because the quality and properties of pitch varied among different conifers, herbals placed emphasis on distinguishing these trees accurately. Blackwell’s plate reflects this applied concern, presenting needles, cones, and seed structure as diagnostic features that supported correct identification of resin-bearing species.

Condition Report

The engraving is in very good antique condition, printed on original handmade laid paper typical of early 18th-century botanical publications. No watermark has been observed. The surface remains stable and clean, with light, even age-related toning consistent with period paper. A light offset stain is visible in the upper left area of the sheet, unobtrusive and consistent with historical printing or storage practices. The impression remains clear and legible, with well-preserved margins overall. 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