Giovanni Battista Ferrari (c. 1582 – 1655) (editor) Cornelis Bloemaert (1603-1684) (engraver) Botanical Citrus Prints from Hesperides Sive de Malorum Aureorum Cultura et Usu Libri Quatuor [Hesperides, or Concerning the Cultivation and Uses of the Golden Apple in Four Volumes] Hermanni Scheus, Rome: 1646 Hand-colored engravings 11.5 x 8 inches, image (average approximate) 13.75 x 9.5 inches, sheet size overall 18 x 14 inches, overall in gold leaf frame $1,500 each in gold leaf frame This entry is for Ferrari fruit prints in fancy custom gold leaf frames with custom corners. We currently have six framed ones for sale; three are illustrated here. There is another webpage on our website for unframed prints. Various framed natural history botanical engravings boldly illustrating a citrus fruit tied with colorful ribbons that are labeled with the species name of the specimen. They are from a set that includes lemons, limes, oranges, and other exotic citrus species that was compiled by the erudite Italian Jesuit scholar and professor Giovanni Battista Ferrari. This work was not only the first taxonomic study of citrus fruit, but also the first exhaustive study of a single family of plants or animals. The project was spearheaded by antiquary and scientist Cassiano dal Pozzo (1588-1657), who arranged funding and commissioned the preparatory drawings after seven notable artists of the era. The engravings were done by the Dutch printmaker Cornelis Bloemaert and Johann Friedrich Greuter, and are notable for their meticulous detail and depiction of texture. The original series of 80 plates mainly depicted life-size fruits, whole and in section, as well as foliage and flowers, along with a few allegorical scenes. In addition to the illustrations, Hesperides examined the taxonomy and classification of citrus fruits, including their origin, methods of cultivation, and medicinal uses. The light airy look of the free-floating fruits makes this a popular set of prints compatible with a modern minimalist decor. The entire set can be viewed in its entirety online (uncolored) with the text, at the Missouri Botanical Garden web site (see References below). Product Description Continues Below
