Rue (Ruta graveolens) – Original Hand-Colored Engraving by Elisabeth Blackwell

This elegant botanical engraving depicts Rue (Ruta graveolens), a perennial herb long associated with medicinal, domestic, and symbolic uses. The composition presents the plant in full vertical development, combining flowering stems, foliage, and analytical details within a clear and balanced structure.

The slender branching stem supports finely divided bluish-green leaves, while clusters of small yellow flowers crown the upper portion of the plate. Blackwell’s restrained palette and precise line work emphasize botanical clarity, allowing the viewer to distinguish each morphological element without visual excess.

Created in the early eighteenth century, this engraving forms part of A Curious Herbal (1737–1739), a landmark work in which scientific observation, copper engraving, and hand-colouring were unified under a single authorship.

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Visual and Aesthetic Analysis

The composition is structured along a strong vertical axis, lending the plant an upright, almost architectural presence. The alternating leaf clusters create rhythmic intervals along the stem, while the flowering heads introduce lightness and visual punctuation at the summit.

Subtle tonal modulation models the foliage with gentle depth, and the limited colour range reinforces legibility. The small auxiliary details positioned to the side of the main figure serve an analytical function, anchoring the plate within the tradition of practical botanical illustration.

About the Subject

Ruta graveolens, commonly known as rue, occupied a prominent place in early modern herbals due to its strong medicinal reputation and its widespread use in household remedies. In eighteenth-century medical practice, rue was valued for its perceived stimulant and protective properties, though it was also regarded as a plant to be handled with care. Accurate visual identification was therefore essential. Blackwell’s depiction reflects this practical concern: the emphasis on flowering structure, leaf form, and overall habit provides a reliable reference for readers navigating a pharmacopeia based largely on visual knowledge. Within A Curious Herbal, rue exemplifies the intersection of botanical science and everyday medicine that defined the work’s enduring importance.

Condition Report

The engraving is preserved in very good antique condition, printed on original handmade laid paper characteristic of early eighteenth-century botanical publications. A period watermark is visible, consistent with contemporary papermaking practices. A very light and small offset is observable at the upper left corner, unobtrusive and typical of historic printing processes. The surface remains stable and well preserved, with fresh original hand-colouring and a clear, crisp impression throughout. The engraved credit “Eliz. Blackwell delin. sculp. et pinx.” is present and fully legible, confirming that the drawing, engraving, and hand-colouring were executed by Elisabeth Blackwell herself.

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

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

Elisabeth Blackwell – A Curious Herbal