Ilmu

Rosa Bourgeauiana

Description:

This is a set of two plates,

(Bourgeau Rose flower) and

(Bourgeau Rose fruit) from Mary Vaux

Walcott's North American Wildflowers

published by the Smithsonian Institute in 1925.

[Scroll down to see the Bourgeau Rose fruit print]

These beautiful prints are from one of the 500

first edition deluxe portfolios produced, all based

on Walcott's original watercolors from her many

trips across North America and the Canadian Rockies. The prints from this set are the larger folio size, measuring ~11x14" and are printed on heavyweight wove paper. Each set consisted of 5 volumes comprising 400 lithographed plates in total, and was originally sold for $500 — a considerable sum at that time, equivalent to nearly $6,000 today. An additional library edition with smaller plates was also produced, with a print run of approximately 2,500 copies.

Walcott's detailed botanical illustrations were widely praised for both their beauty and accuracy, and she was often called the "Audubon of botany." She managed to capture the fleeting spirit of many North American wildflowers in her work, including rare native orchids and unusual pitcher plants among others. Walcott's accomplishments are most notable during a time when few American women were so actively involved in scientific research. She braved rugged mountain climbs (including the 10,496 foot peak ascent of Mt. Stephen in British Columbia, Canada in 1900), freezing temperatures and long treks through the woods and fields of North America to produce a true work of art in the history of botanical illustration.

Please note that prices for the framing options listed below are for BOTH framed prints (in the same style).