Belladonna Lily (Amaryllis belladonna) – 18th-Century Hand-Colored Engraving, Miller (1755)

Belladonna Lily (Amaryllis belladonna) – 18th-Century Hand-Colored Engraving, Miller (1755)

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An elegant 18th-century botanical engraving of the Belladonna Lily (Amaryllis belladonna), published in Philip Miller’s Figures of the Most Beautiful, Useful, and Uncommon Plants. Presented in exceptional “like brand new” condition, this plate combines scientific clarity with refined decorative appeal, enhanced by fresh original hand-coloring.

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Authentic antique prints

Original engravings from the 17th–19th century.

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Belladonna Lily: Floral Grace and Botanical Clarity in 18th-Century Illustration

This original 18th-century hand-colored copper engraving depicts the Belladonna Lily (Amaryllis belladonna), published in Philip Miller’s Figures of the Most Beautiful, Useful, and Uncommon Plants, issued in London in the mid-18th century.

The composition combines a fully developed flowering stem with the exposed bulb and long, arching leaves, reflecting both scientific precision and refined aesthetic sensibility.

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Visual and Aesthetic Analysis

The flowering head dominates the upper portion of the composition with a remarkable sense of movement and elegance. The blooms are rendered in soft shades of rose pink and creamy white, their recurving petals creating a lively, almost theatrical rhythm across the plate.

The long green leaves introduce balance and visual calm, grounding the more animated structure of the flowers. Their curving lines guide the eye downward toward the bulb, reinforcing the botanical identity of the species while adding sculptural presence to the image.

Particularly striking is the inclusion of the exposed bulb and roots, which lends the print an analytical clarity typical of 18th-century botanical illustration. This scientific element enhances the composition by providing depth, authenticity, and structural coherence without diminishing its decorative appeal.

The result is a plate of remarkable refinement, where botanical observation and visual grace are held in perfect balance, creating a work of strong decorative presence.

About Belladonna Lily

The Belladonna Lily, Amaryllis belladonna, has long been admired for its dramatic flowering habit and elegant trumpet-shaped blossoms. Native to southern Africa, it became highly prized in European horticulture for its exotic beauty and distinctive structure.

Its inclusion in Miller’s work reflects the 18th-century fascination with rare ornamental plants, cultivated both for scientific study and for the visual pleasure of their refined and expressive forms.

Heritage Stories

This engraving forms part of Philip Miller’s celebrated botanical publication, closely associated with the scientific activity of the Chelsea Physic Garden and the broader development of Enlightenment botany in Britain.

Miller’s work is renowned for presenting rare and ornamental plants with both botanical discipline and refined visual clarity, making it one of the most important illustrated botanical works of the 18th century.

Explore the broader botanical context in our editorial feature: 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

Excellent antique condition. A particularly crisp and fresh impression, with exceptionally well-preserved original hand-coloring. Printed on fine 18th-century laid paper, retaining generous margins and a remarkably bright and clean appearance. The sheet shows a laid paper watermark with the initials “W” and “J” visible in the sheet. Minor signs of age may be present at the extreme edges, as expected, but the print remains exceptionally well preserved overall.

Details

Author: Philip Miller
Work: Figures of the Most Beautiful, Useful, and Uncommon Plants
Subject: Belladonna Lily (Amaryllis belladonna)
Date: Mid-18th century (as printed)
Technique: Copper engraving, original hand-colored
Paper: Original 18th-century laid paper
Watermark: Watermark with initials “W” and “J” visible in the sheet
Dimensions: approx. 44 × 28 cm (sheet)

Reference UGH

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