Not currently on display at the V&A

Violet (Viola odorata)

Print
1780-1795 (published)
Artist/Maker
Bulliard, Pierre (artist)
Place of origin
Paris (printed and published)

This is a plate from Herbier de la France, which was published in Paris between 1780 and 1795. This ambitious herbal contains more than 600 plates. They were all drawn, engraved and colour-printed by the author, Pierre Bulliard. He achieved the entire delicately modulated colour by printing with three tint plates over an engraved black outline and shading. The Herbier is one of the most impressive examples of colour printing in the history of botanical illustration.


Object details

Categories
Access_to_Images 2003
Illustration
Prints
Gardens & Gardening
Science
Printed Pages & Sheets
SCRAN
Object type
Print
TitleViolet (Viola odorata) (popular title)
Materials and techniques
Colour engraving
Watercolour
Bodycolour
Printing
Brief description
Print depicting Violet, a plate from Pierre Bulliard's 'Herbier de la France', 1780-95
Physical description
Print
Dimensions
  • Sheet height: 33cm
  • Sheet width: 26.6cm
  • Plate height: 23cm
  • Plate width: 17.2cm
Gallery label
Pierre Bulliard about 1742-93 Violet (Viola odroata L.) 1780-95 All the plates in this ambitious herbal were drawn engraved and colour-printed by the author. Bulliard had a strong sense of design. He has placed the violet beautifully within the borders of the plate and described its habit of growth with elegance and accuracy. The holed leaves suggest that he has drawn a particular, rather than a generalised, specimen. Paris Colour engraving Plate 169 from 'Herbier de la France' (Paris, 1780-95) V&A: 29638.504
Subject depicted
Flower
Summary
This is a plate from Herbier de la France, which was published in Paris between 1780 and 1795. This ambitious herbal contains more than 600 plates. They were all drawn, engraved and colour-printed by the author, Pierre Bulliard. He achieved the entire delicately modulated colour by printing with three tint plates over an engraved black outline and shading. The Herbier is one of the most impressive examples of colour printing in the history of botanical illustration.
Bibliographic references
  • 'Picturing Plants: an analytical history of botanical illustration' by Gill Saunders; KWS Publishers, second edition; 2009; no. 23, page 40 (illus)
  • 'Picturing Plants: an analytical history of botanical illustration' by Gill Saunders; Zwemmer in association with the Victoria and Albert Museum; 1995; no. 23, page 40 (illus)
Collection
Prints, Drawings & Paintings Collection
Accession number
29638:504

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Record createdFebruary 19, 2004
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O93367/violet-viola-odorata-print-bulliard-pierre/
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