Elizabeth Blackwell (illustrator)

Elizabeth Blackwell (illustrator)

Elizabeth Blackwell (1707 [ [http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1046/j.1471-1842.2001.00330.x Blackwell Synergy - Health Information & Libraries J, Volume 18 Issue 3 Page 144-152, September 2001 (Article Abstract) ] ] –1758), was a Scottish botanical illustrator and author. She achieved fame as a botanical illustrator, and was both artist and engraver for the plates of "A Curious Herbal", published between 1737 and 1739. The book illustrated many odd-looking and unknown plants from the New World, and was designed as a reference work on medicinal plants for the use of physicians and apothecaries.

Biography

;AberdeenElizabeth Blachrie, was the daughter of a successful Scottish merchant in Aberdeen, and was trained as an artist. She secretly married her cousin, Alexander Blackwell (1709-47), a Scottish doctor and economist [ [http://www.electricscotland.com/history/sweden/18.htm Scots in Sweden - Eighteenth Century ] ] and settled in Aberdeen where he maintained a medical practice. Although his education was sound, his qualifications were questioned, leading to the young couple’s hasty move to London, fearing charges that Alexander was practicing illegally.

;LondonIn London Alexander became associated with a publishing firm, and having gained some experience, established his own printing house, despite not belonging to a guild nor having served the required apprenticeship as a printer. He was charged with flouting the strict trade rules, and heavily fined, forcing him to close his shop.

;PrisonBy now Elizabeth was destitute. Because of Alexander’s lavish spending and the fines that had been imposed, the couple were heavily in debt - Alexander found himself in debtor’s prison. With her husband in gaol, a household to run, a child to care for, and with no income, the situation was desperate. She learned that a herbal was needed to depict and describe exotic plants from the New World. She decided that she could illustrate it, and that Alexander, given his medical background, could write the descriptions of the plants. As she completed the drawings, Elizabeth would take them to her husband’s cell where he supplied the correct names in Latin, Greek, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, and German.

Unlike her husband, Elizabeth was untrained in botany. To compensate for this, she was aided by Isaac Rand, then curator of the Chelsea Physick Garden, where many of these new plants were under cultivation. At Rand’s suggestion, she relocated near the Garden so she could draw the plants from life. In addition to the drawings, Elizabeth engraved the copper printing plates for the 500 images and text, and hand-coloured the printed illustrations.

The first printing of "A Curious Herbal" met with moderate success, both because of the meticulous quality of the illustrations and the great need for an updated herbal. Physicians and apothecaries acclaimed the work, and it received a commendation from the Royal College of Physicians. A second edition was printed 20 years later in a revised and enlarged format in Nuremberg by Dr. Christoph Jacob Trew, a botanist and physician, between 1757 and 1773.

Revenue from the book led to Alexander’s release from prison. However, within a short while debts again accumulated, forcing the couple to sell some of the publication rights to the book. Alexander also became involved in several unsuccessful business ventures, and eventually left the family to start a new life in Sweden.

;SwedenBlackwell arrived in Sweden in 1742 and carried on with agricultural experiments he had started when in Aberdeen. These included the breeding of horses and sheep, and dairy management. His achievements were recognised, and he was appointed court physician to Frederick I of Sweden. Blackwell attempted to strengthen the diplomatic ties between Great Britain, Denmark and Sweden. As Great Britain had no ambassador in Sweden, he contacted a Minister in Denmark. On circumstantial evidence he was accused of conspiracy against the Crown Prince. He was tried and sentenced to be decapitated. He remained in good spirits to the last - at the block, having laid his head wrong, he remarked that since it was his first beheading, he lacked experience and needed instruction. On 9th August 1747 he was executed as Elizabeth was leaving London to join him. [ [http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1046/j.1471-1842.2001.00330.x Blackwell Synergy - Health Information & Libraries J, Volume 18 Issue 3 Page 144-152, September 2001 (Article Abstract) ] ]

Little is known of Elizabeth's later years. She died in 1758, and her grave is in a Chelsea cemetery. She remained loyal to Alexander throughout, even sharing royalties with him from the sale of additional book rights.

Featured at the British Library

Elizabeth Blackwell's "A Curious Herbal" has recently featured on the British Library website as a "classic of botanical illustration". The book is available to view online using the Turning the Pages system. [ [http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/ttp/ttpbooks.html Turning the Pages™, the British Library ] ]

Publications

* "A curious herbal: containing five hundred cuts, of the most useful plants, which are now used in the practice of physick engraved on folio copper plates, after drawings taken from the life / by Elizabeth Blackwell. To which is added a short description of ye plants and their common uses in physick." (London, 1737-1739), her great herbal, which contained engravings drawn from specimens in the Chelsea Physic Garden

External links

Historical editions
* [http://www.botanicus.org/Title.aspx?barcode=31753002620836 "A curious herbal"] (1737). From Botanicus.
* [http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/ttp/ttpbooks.html "A curious herbal"] (1737). From British Library.

References

;Gallery


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Elizabeth Blackwell (disambiguation) — Elizabeth Blackwell may refer to:* Elizabeth Blackwell (illustrator) (1700 ndash;1758), Scottish botanical illustrator * Elizabeth Blackwell (1821 ndash;1910), American abolitionist and women s rights activist, and the first female doctor in the… …   Wikipedia

  • Elizabeth Blackwell (Illustratorin) — Dens leonis (Löwenzahn), A Curious Herbal (1737) Elizabeth Blackwell (* um 1700 in Aberdeen; † 1758 in London), geborene Blachrie, war eine Zeichnerin und Kupferstecherin, die mit ihren Pflanzendarstellungen in A Curious Herbal (1737 1739) eines… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Blackwell — The name Blackwell can refer to many places, people, and things. Places In the United Kingdom: * Blackwell, County Durham, England * Blackwell, Cumbria, England * Blackwell, Bolsover, Alfreton, Derbyshire, England * Blackwell, Somerset, England * …   Wikipedia

  • Botanical illustrator — A botanical illustrator is a person who paints, sketches or otherwise illustrates botanical subjects such as trees and flowers. The job requires great artistic skill, attention to fine detail, and technical botanical knowledge. Typical… …   Wikipedia

  • Herbal — A herbal is a book, often illustrated, that describes the appearance, medicinal properties, and other characteristics of plants used in herbal medicine. ee also*Herbal (Music Venue in Shoreditch, London) *Herbalism (herbal medicine) *Herbal… …   Wikipedia

  • Liste der Biografien/Bla — Biografien: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • List of people on stamps of the United States — This article lists people who have been featured on United States postage stamps. Since the United States Post Office issued its first stamp in 1847, over 4,000 stamps have been issued and over 800 people featured. Many of these people… …   Wikipedia

  • List of pre-21st-century female scientists — This is an historical list of notable female scientists whose main period of scientific activity predated the 21st century, listed by historical period, and listed within each section alphabetically by name, with their years of activity, and… …   Wikipedia

  • 23. Jänner — Der 23. Januar (in Österreich und Südtirol: 23. Jänner) ist der 23. Tag des Gregorianischen Kalenders, somit verbleiben 342 Tage (in Schaltjahren 343 Tage) bis zum Jahresende. Historische Jahrestage Dezember · Januar · Februar 1 …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Viktorianisch — Als Viktorianisches Zeitalter (auch Viktorianische Epoche, Viktorianische Ära) wird in der britischen Geschichte meist der lange Zeitabschnitt der Regierung Königin Victorias von 1837 bis 1901 bezeichnet. Einige Historiker versuchten, einen davon …   Deutsch Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”