Female Fern or Brakes (Athyrium filix-femina) – Original Hand-Colored Engraving by Elisabeth Blackwell

This refined botanical engraving depicts the Female Fern, also known as Brakes (Athyrium filix-femina), presenting a mature frond accompanied by a detailed view of the rootstock for accurate botanical identification.

The frond is rendered with a lighter, more delicate structure than that of the male fern, its finely divided leaflets arranged along a gently arching stem. Elisabeth Blackwell emphasizes contrast between foliage and root by isolating the rhizome, allowing the plant’s full form and growth habit to be read with clarity.

Produced in the early eighteenth century, this plate forms part of A Curious Herbal, a work that systematically documented medicinal plants and ferns at a time when accurate visual representation was essential for practical medical use.

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Visual and Aesthetic Analysis

The composition is structured around a tall, tapering frond whose finely cut pinnae create a sense of lightness and movement. Compared to other fern species, the overall effect is softer and more open, with less visual density and a more graceful rhythm.

Restrained hand-colouring highlights texture and form rather than decorative colour. Subtle green tonal shifts articulate the leaf surfaces, while the warmer browns of the rhizome provide contrast and visual grounding.

About the Subject

The female fern—historically referred to as Filix foemina—was distinguished from the male fern in early European medicine by both its appearance and its perceived medicinal properties. While generally considered milder, it was employed in preparations associated with cleansing and digestive regulation. As with other ferns, correct identification relied on frond structure, division of the leaflets, and root form rather than flowers. Blackwell’s plate reflects this diagnostic approach, presenting the plant in a manner suited to comparison and practical reference within medical herbals.

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 light, even age-related toning. The impression is crisp and well defined, with clear hand-colouring and intact engraved inscriptions, including the artist’s credit “Eliz. Blackwell delin. sculp. et pinx.”

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 medical role of ferns in A Curious Herbal, see our editorial feature:

Elisabeth Blackwell – A Curious Herbal