GEORGE BROOKSHAW (AFTER). POMONA BRITANNICA; OR, A COLLECTION OF THE MOST ESTEEMED FRUITS: FOUR AQUATINT ENGRAVINGS

Four aquatint engravings with some stipple, printed in colors and finished by hand, [London]: G. Brookshaw, [1804-1812]. Each framed.  lot includes: [Peach] White Avant Peach; Bears Red Avant; White Magdalen; Red Magdalen. [Pl. XXV] — [Peach] Marlborough Peach; Rombullion Peach; Double Mountain Peach. [Pl. XXXII] — [Peach] Bourdine Peach; Nevet Peach; Late Admirable Peach. [Pl. XXV] — [Nectarines] Vermash Nectarine; Violet Hâtive Nectarine; Roman Nectarine; North's Scarlet Nectarine; Elrouge Nectarine; Peterborough Nectarine. [Pl. XXXIV]. each sheet approximately: 616 by 457 mm 22 1/4 by 18 in

[Peach] White Avant Peach; Bears Red Avant; White Magdalen; Red Magdalen. [Pl. XXV]: Some repairs to extreme edge of sheet not affecting image. Top left corner has been infilled. [Peach] Marlborough Peach; Rombullion Peach; Double Mountain Peach. [Pl. XXXII]. [London]: Some minor infill work on the bottom left corner of sheet. All in generally excellent condition.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

George Brookshaw's Pomona Britannica is the finest work on fruit and flowers ever produced. Its breathtaking images display a level of technical virtuosity and beauty that distinguish this magnificent work as a true work of art. As a retired cabinetmaker, Brookshaw produced his seminal botanical study late in his career, at first publishing it in parts and then as a complete edition in 1812. The fact that this outstanding work took ten years to complete is evident in the quality of its images and the care with which Brookshaw executed each individual picture. Pomona Britannica was produced as a visual record of the best available varieties of fruit in an attempt to encourage gardeners to experiment with growing fruit, and illustrates examples found in the Royal gardens at Hampton Court, Kensington Gardens, and the private gardens of the Prince of Wales in Blackheath.

Pomona Britannica differs from other botanical works in its dark aquatinted backgrounds and its stylized compositions. By using aquatint to create a contrasting background, Brookshaw manages to produce a truly dramatic effect. His use of stylized composition distinguishes his pictures from the dry scientific illustrations found in other botanical studies and creates an exceptionally beautiful visual experience. Pomona Britannica is not only a didactic study, it is a masterpiece of illustration in which every picture is a testament to the artist's talent and ingenuity.