Vintage Framed Basilius Besler Botanical Lithograph Prints Hortus Eystettensis Pair

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Vintage Framed Basilius Besler Botanical Lithograph Prints Hortus Eystettensis Pair

This exceptionally handsome pair of vintage, custom-framed Basilius Besler botanical … Read more Vintage Framed Basilius Besler Botanical Lithograph Prints Hortus Eystettensis Pair

This exceptionally handsome pair of vintage, custom-framed Basilius Besler botanical prints adds instant historical character and vibrant color to any wall space. Reproduced from the celebrated seventeenth-century masterpiece Hortus Eystettensis, these large-scale architectural lithographs feature two distinct and beautifully coordinated horticultural illustrations. The first plate showcases a lush Alcea Syriaca flowering hibiscus bush detailed with delicate trailing groundcover, while the second plate documents a striking trio of citrus specimens including oranges, lemons, and dwarf citrons. Strikingly double-matted in contrasting dusty blue and terracotta orange tones, these works are housed in classic ebonized wood frames with antiqued gold leaf inner lips, making them an ideal turnkey solution for designers seeking classic symmetry.

About the Artist
Basilius Besler was a highly respected German botanist, apothecary, and engraver who lived and worked in Nuremberg. He is universally celebrated for transforming the world of botanical illustration through his monumental copperplate engraving project commissioned by the Prince Bishop of Eichstatt. Besler spent over sixteen years organizing, directing, and executing the magnificent drawings that documented the sprawling gardens surrounding the bishopric palace. His masterwork broke new ground by portraying flora at an unprecedented life-size scale and arranging specimens with an intuitive artistic flair that elevated clinical scientific rendering into fine art.

Historical Significance
The illustrations in this set are faithful twentieth-century lithographic facsimiles of plates from Besler's landmark 1613 publication, Hortus Eystettensis, widely regarded as the most famous florilegium in botanical history. Printed more than 400 years ago, Besler's original work was a monumental achievement that documented more than 1,000 distinct flower and fruit varieties, charting the changing seasons of the palace gardens. These specific plates capture a fascinating moment in early European botanical science when newly imported exotic plants from across Asia and the Americas were grown and meticulously cataloged alongside native European orchard fruits and medicinal herbs.

Specifications and Dimensions
Quantity: 2 framed prints
Art Subject: Hibiscus flower bush and citrus orchard bush
Medium: High-quality offset lithograph prints on paper
Sight Dimensions: 19 inches wide by 16.5 inches high
Overall Framed Dimensions: 26.5 inches wide by 30 inches high
Frame Material: Lacquered black wood with gilded inner lip
Matting: Double matted under glass

Condition Report
This matching pair of vintage botanical art pieces is in good vintage condition. The lithographic print faces are exceptionally clean and bright, showing no signs of foxing, water damage, color fading, or paper rippling. The double window mats feature clean, white bevel cuts indicating the use of high-quality acid-free mat board during framing. The black lacquer wood frames and gilded inner borders exhibit minor cosmetic wear, light surface scratches, and small scattered nicks consistent with age and gentle handling. The brown dust-cover paper on the back of the frames shows some tearing and peeling along the outer edges, but the frames' structural integrity and hanging wires remain completely secure.

Designers Note
This pair of botanical prints is a true decorator staple that functions beautifully in a formal dining room, a traditional living room entryway, or flanking a large master bed. The substantial overall framing size of nearly thirty inches high offers fantastic wall coverage and instantly solves blank wall dilemmas. The intentional use of mismatched mat colors, pairing a cool slate blue for the flowers and a warm terracotta orange for the fruit, allows this pair to look beautifully curated and collected over time rather than mass-produced. These pieces perfectly channel the coveted grandmillennial and upscale traditionalist aesthetic by breathing new life into historic academic artwork.

Acquiring a beautifully framed, large-scale pair of Basilius Besler botanical prints is an exceptional opportunity to invest in timeless traditional art that never goes out of style. Whether used to ground a classic sideboard or to bring a splash of natural garden color into a modern office space, these exquisite pieces promise to bring sophisticated elegance and historical substance to your home. See less