Night-Blooming Cereus – Lancake Botanical Print (1756)
  • Night-Blooming Cereus – Lancake Botanical Print (1756)
Night-Blooming Cereus – Lancake Botanical Print (1756)
Lancake Night-Blooming Cereus (Cactus) – Antique Hand-Colored Engraving (1756)

Lancake Night-Blooming Cereus (Cactus) – Antique Hand-Colored Engraving (1756)

€480.00
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A dramatic Cereus engraving by Richard Lancake, featuring a luminous night-blooming flower from Miller’s celebrated 18th-century botanical work.

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  Authentic antique prints

Original engravings from the 17th–19th century.

Night-Blooming Cereus: Ephemeral Beauty and Dramatic Form in 18th-Century Botanical Art

This original 18th-century hand-colored copper engraving depicts a Night-Blooming Cereus, illustrated by Richard Lancake for Philip Miller’s Figures of the Most Beautiful, Useful, and Uncommon Plants, published in London in 1756.

The plant, known for its rare nocturnal flowering, is presented in a striking composition that captures both its botanical structure and its ephemeral beauty.

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Visual and Aesthetic Analysis

The composition is dominated by a spectacular fully opened flower, radiating outward in vivid tones of yellow and white. The layered petals create a luminous, almost sculptural effect, drawing immediate attention to the center of the image.

The curved green stem introduces movement and contrast, guiding the eye upward toward the bloom. At the base, a closed bud adds narrative depth, suggesting the fleeting nature of the flowering cycle.

Unlike more restrained botanical engravings, this composition emphasizes visual impact — combining scientific observation with a bold decorative presence.

The result is an image of remarkable intensity, where botanical accuracy meets dramatic expression.

About the Night-Blooming Cereus

Species of Cereus, often referred to as night-blooming cacti, are known for their large, fragrant flowers that open only for a single night. This rare phenomenon fascinated 18th-century botanists and collectors alike.

Their brief and spectacular flowering made them symbols of rarity and natural wonder within early botanical collections.

Heritage Stories

This engraving is part of Philip Miller’s landmark botanical publication, produced at the Chelsea Physic Garden. The plates were created from living specimens and engraved by artists such as Richard Lancake, whose work often emphasizes visual clarity and decorative strength.

The plate bears the publication line “Published according to Act of Parliament”, dated 1756, confirming its origin within the first edition of the work.

Discover more about the project: Philip Miller — Botanical Science and the Art of Cultivation .

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 to excellent antique condition. A particularly crisp and fresh impression, with exceptionally well-preserved original hand-coloring and a remarkably bright and clean appearance. Printed on fine 18th-century laid paper, retaining generous and well-balanced margins. No watermark observed. An unusually well-preserved example of the period.

Details

  • Author: Philip Miller
  • Work: Figures of the Most Beautiful, Useful, and Uncommon Plants
  • Artist (drawing): Richard Lancake (del.)
  • Engraver: As indicated on the plate (sculp.)
  • Species: Cereus (Night-Blooming Cactus)
  • Date: 1756 (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
  • Watermark: None observed
  • Dimensions: approx. 44 × 28 cm (sheet)
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