2 Horto Van Houtteano Framed Botanical Tropical Colored Lithograph Prints Plants

Description

Six Framed Botanical Colored Lithographs, framed under glass with ornate mat and burlwood frame.

Flore de Serres et des Jardins de l'Europe (Flowers of the Greenhouses and Gardens of Europe) was founded by Louis van Houtte, owner of the most successful nursery of the time on the European continent, and edited together with the prominent botanist Charles Lemaire.

The journal, with more than 2000 plates, was a showcase for lavish engravings of unique botanicals from around the world. The superbly illustrated plates, hand colored or finished lithographs enhanced with gum Arabic, contain a wonderful selection of plants following the interests of the famous contributors of the era - roses, bulbous plants, orchids, palms, rhododendrons, camellias and exotic plants among the 23 volumes.

Most of the plants depicted in the journal were for sale in van Houtte's nursery, so in one sense these plates acted as his catalogue. It is fascinating to see the species considered the most desirable of the times, with a preponderance of orchids, roses, camellias, azaleas and rhododendrons, not to mention carnivorous plants, tropicals and other exotics. It is a true pleasure to take a step back in time to visit this illustrious nursery, the likes of which would be hard to find today.

Includes -
Crataegus oxyacantha, also known as hawthorn, is a flowering shrub in the rose family.
Azalea indica, a synonym of Rhododendron indicum, is an evergreen flowering shrub in the family Ericaceae.

Condition

Very Good; light wear to the frames from use

Dimensions

26" x 30", sans 6" x 10"