Description
Description of Christoph Jakob Trew's Hortus Nitidissimis
Considered some of the rarest and most sumptuous botanical prints ever produced, Christoph Jakob Trew's Hortus nitidissimis omnem per annum superbiens floribus contains beautifully rendered representations "the most beautiful flowering plants [of European garden] at the height of their fluorescent luxury." (Sotherby's Thursday 10 May 2001) Breaking from scientific precision, these prints were created with an artistic flare, without great devotion to strict anatomical aspects. Instead, the artists concentrated on developing the innate beauty found within the flowering world. One creative method utilized, especially on the tulips, applied water color mixed with a chalk-like material, making the engraved plate more appear more like a painting. Partially because publishing lasting for an uncommonly long period of time, from 1750 to 1792, the work is rarely found in full. We have here 17 of the 178 original plates. An complete copy recently sold at auction for $829, 875. They are hand-coloured on fine, water-marked, laid paper that measures ~ 19 1/2" by 12 3/4".