A refined botanical engraving depicting Abutilon, illustrating the balance between structural clarity and delicate floral detail

Ehret Abutilon Plant (Abutilon sp.) – Antique Hand-Colored Engraving (1755)

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A refined botanical engraving depicting Abutilon, illustrating the balance between structural clarity and delicate floral detail in 18th-century botany.

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Authentic antique prints

Original engravings from the 17th–19th century.

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Abutilon: Botanical Clarity and Delicate Structure in 18th-Century Illustration

This original 18th-century hand-colored copper engraving depicts a species of Abutilon, illustrated by Georg Dionysius Ehret for Philip Miller’s Figures of the Most Beautiful, Useful, and Uncommon Plants, published in London between 1755 and 1760. The work represents a key moment in botanical illustration, where scientific observation was translated into a precise and highly legible visual form.

Drawn from living specimens cultivated at the Chelsea Physic Garden, the composition reflects a careful study of structure and variation, characteristic of Miller’s approach to botanical classification.

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Visual and Aesthetic Analysis

The engraving presents the plant in a clear vertical structure, with branching stems supporting a sequence of leaves and blossoms. The finely serrated foliage introduces texture and movement, while the soft coloration enhances the naturalistic quality of the composition.

Particular attention is given to the flowers, rendered in subtle tones of pale yellow and soft pink. Their delicate form contrasts with the more defined geometry of the leaves, creating a balanced and harmonious visual relationship.

Additional botanical details — including isolated elements and sectional studies — enrich the plate, reflecting the scientific intent of the work while maintaining a refined decorative presence.

The clarity of the background allows the plant to emerge with precision, a defining feature of Ehret’s contribution to botanical illustration during the Enlightenment.

About the Genus Abutilon

The genus Abutilon includes a variety of flowering plants valued for their ornamental qualities and delicate blossoms. Known for their soft petals and structured foliage, these plants were cultivated in botanical gardens across Europe and studied for their morphological diversity.

In the context of 18th-century botany, such species contributed to a broader understanding of plant classification and the relationship between form and function.

Heritage Stories

This engraving belongs to Philip Miller’s Figures of the Most Beautiful, Useful, and Uncommon Plants, a landmark publication of the mid-18th century. Produced under Miller’s supervision, the plates were drawn from living plants and executed by leading botanical artists, including Georg Dionysius Ehret.

The engraving bears a publication line stating “Published according to Act of Parliament”, dated 1755, confirming its origin within the first edition of the work.

Discover more about the artist: Georg Dionysius Ehret — The Art of Botanical Precision .

Browse the complete collection: Miller – Uncommon Plants Collection , featuring original 18th-century engravings that combine scientific precision with refined decorative presence.

Condition Report

Very good antique condition. The engraving retains a strong, clear impression with finely preserved original hand-coloring. Printed on high-quality 18th-century laid paper, with visible texture and structure. The margins remain generous and well balanced. A light sign of handling is visible along the left margin, together with a few small lightly toned spots. The sheet also shows a watermark with the visible letter “W” in the paper. These minor signs remain fully consistent with the period and do not affect the overall visual quality of the engraving.

Details

Author: Philip Miller
Work: Figures of the Most Beautiful, Useful, and Uncommon Plants
Artist (drawing): Georg Dionysius Ehret (pinx.)
Engraver: As indicated on the plate (sculp.)
Subject: Abutilon (botanical species)
Date: 1755 (first edition, as printed)
Publication line: “Published according to Act of Parliament…” (as printed)
Technique: Copper engraving, original hand-colored
Paper: Original 18th-century laid paper
Dimensions: approx. 44 × 28 cm (sheet)
Watermark: Letter “W” visible in the sheet

Reference UGR

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