Long Birthwort (Aristolochia longa) – Original Hand-Colored Engraving by Elisabeth Blackwell

This refined botanical engraving depicts the Long Birthwort (Aristolochia longa), presenting a slender climbing stem with rounded, heart-like leaves, accompanied by a detailed rendering of its characteristic elongated root.

The composition emphasizes legibility through separation of essential elements: the leafy stem is shown with clear spacing between nodes, while the thick, sculptural root is isolated at the lower right, functioning as both diagnostic feature and visual anchor. Blackwell’s restrained approach privileges identification, balancing botanical clarity with an elegant economy of form.

Created in the early eighteenth century, this plate forms part of A Curious Herbal, a landmark work in which drawing, copper engraving, and hand-colouring were executed by Elisabeth Blackwell herself—an exceptionally unified process that gives the series its distinctive coherence and authority.

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Visual and Aesthetic Analysis

The plant rises along a gentle diagonal, with broad leaves arranged at intervals that create a calm, rhythmic progression. The negative space around the foliage enhances readability, while the isolated fruit and seed details (set apart above) reinforce the plate’s analytical intent.

A muted palette of deep greens and soft yellow-green tones models the leaves with subtle depth, while the root is rendered in warm browns that introduce weight and contrast. The result is a composed image in which line, proportion, and restraint convey both scientific precision and quiet decorative presence.

About the Subject

Long birthwort (Aristolochia longa) belongs to a group of plants historically valued in European and Mediterranean materia medica, chiefly for their roots. In early herbal practice, these roots were associated with “warming” and stimulating preparations and were discussed in contexts that included childbirth and cleansing remedies. Because the genus contains multiple visually similar species, accurate depiction of leaf shape, growth habit, and especially the distinctive root structure was essential for identification in apothecary use.

Today, Aristolochia species are also notable for the complex and sometimes troubling history of their medicinal reputation, as later knowledge clarified significant toxicity concerns. For collectors and historians, Blackwell’s engravings preserve an authentic record of how such plants were once documented, handled, and understood—making this plate as important culturally as it is botanically.

Condition Report

The engraving is in exceptionally fine antique condition, printed on original handmade laid paper typical of early 18th-century botanical publications. A period watermark is visible on the sheet, consistent with contemporary papermaking practices. The surface remains fresh and stable, with no notable defects. The hand-colouring is well preserved, and the impression is crisp and fully legible throughout. The engraved credit “Eliz. Blackwell delin. sculp. et pinx.” is present and clear, 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: Period watermark visible
• Sheet size: approx. 37 × 22 cm

Curatorial Context

This plate belongs to a rare micro-group of Aristolochia subjects illustrated by Elisabeth Blackwell—plants once central to practical medicine and later reassessed as knowledge advanced. For a close comparative companion within the same genus, see:

Creeping Birthwort (Aristolochia clematitis) — Companion Plate from A Curious Herbal

For further context on Elisabeth Blackwell and the medical-botanical framework of A Curious Herbal, see our editorial feature:

Elisabeth Blackwell – A Curious Herbal