Georg Dionysius Ehret (German, 1708-1770) Study of iris and a butterfly

signed and dated 'G. D. Ehret. 1757' l.r., inscribed 'Iris bulbofa latifolia, flore variegato coeruleo' l.r., watercolour, 48 x 34cm; mount 70.5 x 55cm; unframed, Ehret was the son of a gardener and draughtsman and began his career as a gardener's apprentice. Early in his career, he was employed as an illustrator by the German botanist Johann Wilhelm Weinmann for his florilegium 'Phytanthoza Iconographia', for which Ehret utilised the newly developed process of mezzotint engraving, embellished with hand-colouring. The partnership, however, ended with their falling out over payment, prompting Ehret's departure and extensive travels in Europe. Through his prodigious output, he rose, by the middle of the century, to become the most celebrated botanical artist of his time. Crucial to his success was his association with Carl Linnaeus - in 1735, he collaborated with the great naturalist and taxonomist, along with the Dutch banker and Governor of the East India Company, George Clifford, to produce the seminal work 'Hortus Cliffortianus'. Ehret made the majority of the plant studies, which were later etched by Jan Wandelaar. Having settled in England, his reputation continued to grow and he was patronised by Hans Sloane and the Duchess of Portland, among others. As he later recalled, 'If I could have divided myself into twenty parts I could still have had my hands full'. His drawings combined fidelity to the structure and characteristics of the plant with a strong sense of design and brilliant execution. Ehret published 'Plantae et Papiliones Rariores' to his own designs and specifications by subscription from 1748 to 1759, but he also continued to contribute illustrations to the work of other botanists. He collaborated with Christoph Trew for 'Plantae Selectae', of rare and exotic plants, between 1750 and 1773, and produced plates for the naturalist Mark Catesby. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1757. Towards the end of his life, he met Joseph Banks, who commissioned him to record some of his enormous collection of specimens, resulting in a group of magnificent drawings on vellum. Subsequently, Banks acquired many of Ehret's drawings and sketchbooks, now in the Natural History Museum, London. Condition Report, Condition Report, Stuck down to the mount. Time staining, foxing and firt marks are visible to the work. The main image remains undisturbed, with the colours retaining a fresh appearance. Request A Condition Report, Request A Condition Report

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