Antique Hand-Colored Engraving — Tomato & Melon Botanical Print After Basilius Besler, Framed

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A beautiful 18th/19th century hand-colored copperplate engraving depicting a flourishing tomato vine ("Poma amoris fructu luteo") heavy with ripe red … Read more A beautiful 18th/19th century hand-colored copperplate engraving depicting a flourishing tomato vine ("Poma amoris fructu luteo") heavy with ripe red fruit, accompanied by two striped melons identified as "Melo Saccharinus variegatus" and "Pseudocolocynthis Pomiformis." This image is derived from Basilius Besler's landmark 1613 botanical work, Hortus Eystettensis — one of the most important and influential botanical illustration projects of the early modern era.

The engraving displays the fine cross-hatched line work characteristic of true copperplate printing, with rich, hand-applied watercolor in deep greens and warm reds. Close examination shows the irregular, hand-worked quality of the radial shading lines, individually applied pigment, and natural paper texture — all hallmarks of an authentic period engraving rather than a modern reproduction.

The sheet shows an old horizontal fold line (consistent with having once been part of a bound volume) and scattered light foxing and toning typical of paper this age — both expected, and part of the charm of an antique piece with genuine history.

Presented in a lovely beaded gilt-wood frame with glass, in good condition overall.

A piece of botanical illustration history — perfect for a library, kitchen, dining room, or eclectic gallery wall. See less