Aquatint and stipple engraving, printed in colour and finished by hand  1804-1812

Image: 470 x 370 mm Frame: 650 x 560 mm

As published in Pomona Brittanica, in 1812.

In excellent condition with rich, sumptuous colours.

The Pomona Brittanica depicts varieties of fruits cultivated at the Royal Gardens at Hampton Court and Kensington Gardens at the beginning of the nineteenth century. Brookshaw was originally a cabinetmaker but abandoned this career midlife to become a teacher of flower painting. While teaching, Brookshaw worked tirelessly on the engraving for the Pomona, which were published in parts from 1894 and together as a collection in 1812. Using the subtle tones of the aquatint and stipple engraving techniques, Brookshaw created sumptuous images of richly coloured fruits, many against distinctive dark chocolate-coloured backgrounds, to produce an effect quite unlike that of previous botanical works. The Pomona Brittanica is justly celebrated as being among the greatest botanical books of the nineteenth century, containing the best colour engravings of fruit ever produced.