Sage (Salvia officinalis) – Original Hand-Colored Engraving by Elisabeth Blackwell

This refined botanical engraving depicts Sage (Salvia officinalis), presenting an upright flowering stem with characteristic bluish bilabiate blossoms, broad textured leaves, and separate details of flower, fruit, and seed for accurate botanical reference.

The composition balances clarity and elegance: the vertical stem organizes the plant’s structure, while the large, softly modelled leaves provide visual weight and contrast to the lighter floral elements. Elisabeth Blackwell’s careful observation allows each botanical component to be read distinctly, reinforcing both scientific and medicinal intent.

Produced in the early eighteenth century, this plate forms part of A Curious Herbal, a work that sought to document plants of everyday medical importance through precise illustration and practical detail.

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Visual and Aesthetic Analysis

The plant is structured along a strong central axis, punctuated by regularly spaced flower whorls that introduce rhythm and upward movement. The broad basal leaves anchor the composition, contrasting with the more delicate upper foliage and blossoms.

Restrained hand-colouring enhances natural tonal variation without excessive contrast. Soft greens and muted blues preserve botanical clarity while lending the image a calm, balanced presence.

About the Subject

Sage (Salvia officinalis) was among the most valued medicinal and culinary plants in early European tradition. Renowned for its aromatic leaves, it was used in remedies associated with digestion, inflammation, and memory, and held a symbolic reputation for promoting longevity and wisdom. Its frequent appearance in herbals reflects its central role in household medicine and apothecary practice. Blackwell’s inclusion of floral and seed details underscores the importance of accurate identification for a plant so widely employed in daily life.

Condition Report

The engraving is in very good 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. Very light offsetting is present in a few areas, unobtrusive and consistent with historical printing or storage. The surface remains stable, with light age-related toning, and the impression is clear with well-preserved 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 medicinal plants documented in A Curious Herbal, see our editorial feature:

Elisabeth Blackwell – A Curious Herbal