Large Flowering Sensitive Plant.
London: Dr. Thornton, 1799. First state. Elephant folio aquatint, stipple and line, printed in color, finished by hand of Dr. Thornton's landmark botanical work the "Temple of Flora". This stunning image, in shades of aqua, green and scarlet, depicts the scarlet blossom of the huge sensitive plant being visited by two hummingbirds. In the background, a native stands looking at another plant, which towers above him, easily double his height. The leaves, which respond by moving when they are touched, are carefully drawn in the foreground. Wonderful mountainscape in Jamaica, with a dramatic, stormy sky. The detail of the delicately fringed blossoms are clear right to the tiny rounded tips.
Impression mark 36 x 47.5 cm, with wide full margins. Original stitch marks visible on the left side. Two very small fox spots in the sky, and a small ridge (paper fault) in the lower sky. A very strong impression with magnificent coloring. Dunthorne p. 248; Great Flower Books p.77; De Belder lot 355. Item #5975
Price: $4,500.00