Salvia lutea – Munting Antique Botanical Engraving (1696)
  • Salvia lutea – Munting Antique Botanical Engraving (1696)
Salvia lutea – Munting Antique Botanical Engraving (1696)
Yellow Sage (Salvia lutea) – Antique Hand-Colored Botanical Engraving by Abraham Munting (1696)

Yellow Sage (Salvia lutea) – Antique Hand-Colored Botanical Engraving by Abraham Munting (1696)

€1,350.00
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Original 17th-century hand-colored engraving of Salvia lutea by Abraham Munting, featuring variegated foliage and a striking cabinet of curiosities composition.

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  Authentic antique prints

Original engravings from the 17th–19th century.

Yellow Sage: Botanical Elegance and Cabinet Curiosity

This original late 17th-century hand-colored copper engraving depicts Yellow Sage, traditionally identified as Salvia lutea, from Abraham Munting’s Dutch work Nauwkeurige Beschryving der Aardgewassen, later known as Phytographia Curiosa, published in 1696.

Unlike later botanical illustration, Munting’s compositions present the plant as a complete organism and a staged subject — roots, stem, leaves and flowers arranged within a broader visual setting, transforming natural history into a refined form of botanical theatre.

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Visual and Aesthetic Analysis

The composition is defined by a graceful, branching structure that rises naturally from the ground, creating a balanced yet organic form. The elongated leaves display subtle tonal variations, giving the plant a refined visual texture.

Clusters of warm yellow blossoms emerge delicately at the upper sections, introducing a luminous chromatic accent that contrasts with the cooler greens of the foliage.

What distinguishes this engraving is the inclusion of a draped animal skin at the base — an unexpected and evocative element that transforms the composition into a staged scene rather than a simple botanical study.

This juxtaposition of plant and object reflects the intellectual culture of the cabinet of curiosities, where natural specimens were displayed alongside exotic materials, creating layered narratives that extended beyond scientific observation.

About the Species

Salvia lutea was appreciated in early botanical collections for its distinctive foliage and ornamental flowering. As part of a diverse genus, it represented both medicinal interest and decorative value.

In the seventeenth century, such plants were often cultivated not only for practical use but for their ability to enrich collections of rare and curious specimens, reflecting the expanding botanical knowledge of the period.

Heritage Stories

This engraving belongs to Nauwkeurige Beschryving der Aardgewassen, later known as Phytographia Curiosa, published in 1696 by Abraham Munting — a work that captures a transitional moment in the history of botanical illustration, where science, collecting and visual culture were deeply intertwined.

Examples with original contemporary hand-coloring are particularly scarce. Many impressions encountered on the market today have been colored at a later date, whereas early colorings such as this preserve a more nuanced palette and a closer dialogue with the engraved line.

Explore the full collection of Munting botanical engravings: Munting – Botanical Prints

Discover more in our editorial feature: Abraham Munting — Botanical Curiosity and Early Natural Science

Condition Report

Very good antique condition. The original hand-coloring remains fresh and well balanced, with clear engraved detail throughout. Printed on fine original laid (vergé) paper. The sheet retains slightly reduced margins compared to larger examples, yet remains well proportioned and visually balanced. No watermark observed. A refined and highly decorative impression.

Details

  • Author: Abraham Munting
  • Work: Nauwkeurige Beschryving der Aardgewassen (later known as Phytographia Curiosa)
  • Species: Yellow Sage (Salvia lutea)
  • Year: 1696 (edition)
  • Technique: Original copper engraving, entirely hand-colored
  • Paper: Original laid (vergé) paper
  • Watermark: None observed
  • Sheet size: approx. 39 × 25 cm
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