Not currently on display at the V&A

Cattleya guttata

Print
1830s-40s (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Miss Drake was a competent botanical illustrator. Little is known about her life or career, but she contributed to a number of journals and monographs published in the 1830s and 1840s. This is a plate from the Horticultural Society's Transactions. She also contributed many of the plates to Bateman's monumental book Orchidaceae of Mexico and Guatemala(1837-41).


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleCattleya guttata (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
engraving
Brief description
Miss S.A. Drake: Orchid (Cattleya guttata); Plate 8 from the Horticultural Society's 'Transactions', Vol.II, Second Series; aquatint, coloured by hand
Physical description
Engraving
Dimensions
  • Height: 40.5cm
  • Width: 28.4cm
  • Sheet height: 427mm
  • Sheet width: 296mm
Marks and inscriptions
  • Cattleya guttata / Miss Drake del. / Barclay sculpt. (Lettered on the print)
  • HORT. TRANS. Vol.2 Pl.8. SECOND SERIES (Printed top righthand corner)
Gallery label
Miss S Drake active 1830s-40s Orchid (Cattleya guttata) About 1830-40 Horticultural periodicals both reflected and fostered the changing fashions in garden and conservatory plants. They also presented new varieties and species. The skilled female illustrator Miss Drake worked on major publications, though surprisingly little is known about her. She seems to have specialised in orchids. Probably London Hand-coloured acquatint; By G. Barclay Plate 8 from 'Transactions of the Horticultural Society of London', vol.ii, second series Given by Mr Arthus Jaffé V&A: E.797-1945
Credit line
Given by Mr Arthur Jaffé
Subjects depicted
Summary
Miss Drake was a competent botanical illustrator. Little is known about her life or career, but she contributed to a number of journals and monographs published in the 1830s and 1840s. This is a plate from the Horticultural Society's Transactions. She also contributed many of the plates to Bateman's monumental book Orchidaceae of Mexico and Guatemala(1837-41).
Bibliographic references
  • 'Picturing Plants: an analytical history of botanical illustration' by Gill Saunders; 1995; Zwemmer in association with the Victoria and Albert Museum; no.77, page 115
  • 'Picturing Plants: an analytical history of botanical illustration' by Gill Saunders; 2009; KWS Publishers in association with the Victoria and Albert Museum; no.77, page 115
  • Victoria and Albert Museum, Department of Engraving, Illustration and Design and Department of Paintings, Accessions 1945, London: HMSO, 1956.
Collection
Accession number
E.797-1945

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Record createdJune 30, 2009
Record URL
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