(Plate 44 Azelea, Heather, Heath) British Wildflowers. London: William Smith, 1846. $185.00

Plate 44 "Procumbent Azalea,  Marsh Andromeda, Heather, Cornish Heath..."

Nineteenth century ladies of good breeding studied watercolor drawing. Jane Webb Loudon (1807-1858) was no exception. However, in her case, the activity was much more than a diversion. Jane's father died when she was seventeen and the commercial success of her books kept her family from poverty. She produced decorative books of flowers based upon her own paintings. They were intended for an audience of pleasure gardeners.  The volumes, published between 1840 and 1846, were titled The Ladies Flower Garden of Ornamental Annuals, ...Bulbous Plants, ...Perennials and ...Ornamental Greenhouse Plants. They were so popular that they went into a second printing in 1850. This lovely hand colored lithograph was issued as an illustration in British Wild Flowers printed in London in 1846.

11 x 8 1/4 inches, sheet.
Hand colored lithograph.
Excellent condition with light overall patina. Some old staining along right edge of paper.