Bilder Joseph Pitton de Tournefort (1656–1708) – Botanical Illustrations of Poppy Flowers – Engraving (1719)

Beskrivning

This engraving depicts a detailed botanical study of poppy blossoms, identified by the Latin and French titles Papaver and Pavot. The composition features two primary flower heads: one shown in a side profile revealing its delicate, layered petals, and another shown from a top-down perspective to highlight the central reproductive structures. Accompanying the blossoms are isolated studies of individual components, including a single petal, a budding flower encased in its sepals, and a young seed capsule topped with a flat, radiating stigma. These precise anatomical dissections provide a comprehensive scientific record of the species, emphasizing the structural details necessary for botanical identification. This work was published as part of the Institutiones Rei Herbariae, a foundational botanical text that established a system of plant classification based on the structure of flowers and fruits.

Joseph Pitton de Tournefort was a pioneering French botanist and a professor at the Jardin des Plantes in Paris. He is best known for his significant contributions to plant taxonomy, particularly for his clear definition of the concept of the genus, which influenced the later work of Carl Linnaeus. His extensive travels throughout Europe and the Levant allowed him to document thousands of plant species, many of which were illustrated with high technical precision in his multi-volume publications. Tournefort's systematic approach to botany made his works essential references for scientists and collectors throughout the eighteenth century.

Artist or Maker: Joseph Pitton de Tournefort .

Dimensions: Approximately 24 cm x 18 cm.

Medium: Engraving .

Date: 1719

Condition Report:
This work is in good condition overall. There may be a few minor imperfections or fox or mottled marks to be expected with age. Please review the images carefully for condition details, and feel free to contact us with any questions or for a comprehensive condition report.