Rhapontic (Rheum rhaponticum) – Original Hand-Colored Engraving by Elisabeth Blackwell

This powerful botanical engraving depicts Rhapontic (Rheum rhaponticum), presented with exceptional clarity and dramatic presence. The plate combines the plant’s broad leaf structure, fine flowering stems, and an imposing root study, offering a complete and authoritative portrait of a historically significant medicinal botanical.

Two expansive, richly shaded leaves establish the composition’s sculptural weight, while the tall central stem carries delicate branching clusters of small pendulous blossoms. At the base, the root is rendered with striking realism, and an additional cross-sectional view reveals the interior structure—an analytical detail that signals the plate’s practical purpose and elevates its visual narrative.

Produced in the early eighteenth century, this engraving forms part of A Curious Herbal (1737–1739), a landmark botanical and medical work distinguished by the rare unity of authorship in which drawing, copper engraving, and hand-colouring were executed by Elisabeth Blackwell herself.

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Visual and Aesthetic Analysis

The composition is built around a calm vertical axis that rises from a grounded base into an airy floral crown. The enlarged leaves introduce monumental scale and a deep tonal range, creating a refined interplay of mass and negative space. Their broad planes read almost like drapery, giving the plate a distinctly architectural elegance.

The root element provides dramatic counterbalance and historical gravitas: its dark, sculptural form anchors the lower register, while the separate cut view adds a striking focal accent. Together, these features create an engraving that feels both scientifically purposeful and visually commanding—an object that holds its presence in a room as much as it informs.

About the Subject

Rhapontic, associated with the rhubarb family (Rheum), held an important place in early modern pharmacopeias, where roots were often treated as key medicinal materials. In eighteenth-century household and apothecary practice, correct identification of roots mattered as much as the above-ground habit, because preparation and dosage relied on reliable botanical recognition. Blackwell’s emphasis on the root—shown both as a complete form and in cross-section—reflects this practical need and signals the engraving’s function as a trustworthy reference. Within A Curious Herbal, subjects like rhapontic embody the book’s distinctive ambition: to document plants not as idealized ornaments, but as usable, observable materials within the medical culture of its time.

Condition Report

The engraving is preserved in like brand new antique condition, printed on original handmade laid paper typical of early eighteenth-century botanical publications. A period watermark is visible on the sheet, consistent with contemporary papermaking practices. The surface remains clean and stable, with a crisp impression and fresh original hand-colouring throughout. No notable defects are present. The engraved credit “Eliz. Blackwell delin. sculp. et pinx.” is 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