Trew,Christoph Jakob. — Tulipa VIII. [Plate 55]

Nuremberg, 1766. Copper-engraving and etching with original handcolouring (watercolours and gouache) on laid paper. Size: 35,0 x 22,8 cm (exc. marg.); 54,1 x 38,0 (inc. marg.). Condition: Impression and colours still very vibrant, small (but indiscernible / very vague spot) at the outer-rim of the plate-mark, very broad margins. * Highly decorative original print depicting three purple / white tulips with yellow cores. This print was published in Hortus Nittidissimus, one of the finest and decorative florilegia of the eighteenth century. The work was started by Johann michael Seligmann (1720-1762) and the engravings were based on the collection of flower drawings owned by the botanist and bibliophile Christoph Trew (1695-1769). Georg Ehret (1708-1770) produced the designs for 40 of the eventual total of 188 plates. The remainder were drawn up by a team of local artists, including J.C. Keller, Professor of Drawing at Erlangen University, the court painter Nikolaus Eisenberger, and A.L. Wirsing. # cf. Brunet V, 943; cf. Dunthorne 310; cf. Great Flower Books (1990) p. 144; cf. Harvard Arnold, p. 700; cf. Johnston Cleveland 493; cf. Nissen BBI 1995; cf. Pritzel 9500.