1840 Hand-Colored Botanical Engraving | Vernal Sandwort (Arenaria verna) | Plate No. 384

Date: 1840
Publisher: W. Baxter, Botanical Garden, Oxford
Title: Arenaria verna (Vernal Sandwort)
Plate Number: 384

An original antique hand-colored botanical plate acquired from a collection sourced at an antiquarian fair. Beautifully detailed and printed on period paper, this botanical illustration captures the artistic elegance characteristic of early botanical works.

Published in Oxford in 1840 by W. Baxter, Botanical Garden, this original hand-colored botanical engraving depicts Vernal Sandwort (Arenaria verna), a delicate alpine and heathland wildflower admired for its understated beauty and finely detailed floral structure. Illustrated and engraved by Mathews, the plate reflects the careful scientific observation and artistic craftsmanship characteristic of nineteenth-century botanical works.

Printed from an engraved plate and finished by hand, the illustration features graceful stems bearing delicate white blossoms accented with soft blush-pink details, complemented by slender sage-green foliage and warm earthy tones at the root system. Accompanying botanical studies highlight the flower’s structure and reproductive elements, enhancing both its scientific and decorative appeal. The original hand coloring remains well preserved, lending the composition a refined and elegant character.

Condition: Very Good. Plate mark visible. Colors remain well preserved. 

Size: 5” x 8 1/2”

Well-suited for framing and display in a library, study, garden room, conservatory, or gallery wall. A lovely addition for collectors of natural history, botanical art, and antique prints.